Gandalf The...Kiwi?

I have just discovered, much to my amazement, that there is someone who is actually, legally, called The Wizard of New Zealand. He even kinda looks like that famous character from The Lord Of The Rings too.

Sort of.

Nevertheless, he's a real person (and yes, still alive) who's made a reputation of himself by speaking publicly in Cathedral Square, Christchurch. He's even got his own website and Wikipedia page. In fact, in 1990, he was officially invited (and which he obviously has accepted) to become The Wizard of the whole of NZ by Prime Minister Mike Moore, right smack in the middle of his electoral term. The only reason why that fact would be interesting is because he was only Prime Minister for 2 months, then went on to bigger and better things (I think).

Naturally, you won't be able to read anything of this minute size. Click on it to open it in a new tab/page, then click again to enlarge.

Anyway, back to the original topic. Here's another interesting fact. The Wizard is also a 'living work of art'. Literally. He even went on display at the Auckland City Gallery. The medium of art? The 'artist's corporeal substance'.  

cor·po·re·al (kôr-pôr'ē-əl) adj.

1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of the body. See Synonyms at bodily.
2. Of a material nature; tangible. 
   

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 

Once again, rinse and repeat open in new tab, and click to enlarge.

I think he's abit used to the fact that most people don't believe that The Wizard of New Zealand is his legal name now. He was born Ian Brackenbury Channell, but I guess he wasn't too happy with his name and decided to change it.

In any case, ever seen what a wizard's passport and driver's license? Wait, on second thoughts, ever seen a wizard have a passport and driver's license?

"Grandmother, what big eyes you have!"

"All the better to see with, my child."

So...there's a Kiwi version of Gandalf. I wonder if he has a white stallion too?