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Comment by icu | Hacker News Reader

When I was a young child, growing up in the US, I was given a children's book called Bidibidi (by Gavin Bishop) by my Kiwi grandmother. If I remember correctly, the Wizard saves Bidibidi (who is a sheep). When my father, remarked that there was a real Wizard in New Zealand, who lived in Christchurch, it sparked a lot of wonder and excitement about the Wizard in a far off land. I can't be the only child who found out about the Wizard and was enchanted by the thought of him.

I get that the public purse must be spent well, but I wonder how much wonder and excitement gets lost everytime weird and wonderful traditions like this end.

Surely the price of child wonderment is worth more than NZ$16k/year?

As an adult reading about the Wizard being deemed 'a living work of art' it seems like an appealing philosophical take on the human experience. I think we all should be reminded now and then to consider ourselves artists across the tapestry of time.

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>Surely the price of child wonderment is worth more than NZ$16k/year?

Even if it is, the man is 88 and becoming to old to perform his "duties." Imagine how you would feel if your family took a trip to Christchurch and the wizard was too unwell to perform.

Is that your assumption?

The article said he plans to continue his appearances despite not being paid anymore:

The Wizard said he would keep up his regular appearances at Christchurch’s Arts Centre, chatting to tourists and locals. The centre is hosting an exhibition of his life this month, which is supported by the council.

The article also says his appearances are less regular, and though he blames the council that doesn't make a ton of sense if he's willing to doing it unasked and unpaid.

That sounds reasonable? I wouldn’t mind my tax dollars going towards retaining this wizard in the last years of his life. He’s spent 23 years performing, we can deal with him taking a break these last few years.

I don't mind my tax dollars paying for a postal worker's retirement, but I would object to them keeping their route when unable to deliver all the mail.

I agree. They should have become wizards if that is what they wanted.

That’s irrelevant to the parent’s point. Of course people get old, but the position could be filled by a new wizard when the old one retires. The “wonder and excitement” could be kept alive.

Does he have an apprentice?

https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/11/the-apprentice-wiza...

Then you tell your children that the wizard is away to rescue someone or something like that, that's what wizards do. Maybe that will teach your kids to be alittle bit more patient, and maybe it teaches you that you don't get everything you want "because you paid for it". Seriously, if i plan a trip to some 88 year old guy and they tell me he is to sick to come to work today, I wouldnt even think about wanting money back or demand that he shows up, you should just let this guy have a break and go on with your life.

So lie to your child or completely kill the wonder of the whole thing by telling them this is all just a huge lie they paid for. Seems like just employing a fitter wizard is a better choice.

I think the last time I heard anything about the Wizard of Christchurch it was a little human-intrest story that was just "hey did you know this NZ town has a wizard", and there was mention of an apprentice he was training to take over the gig when he got too old. Guess that fell through.

I live in the town and met the dude he's ment to be training he seemed like more of a musician and in all my last 20 years in christchurch have not once seen the actual wizard in the square

>Seems like just employing a fitter wizard is a better choice.

The better choice is teaching children early on about the difference between reality and fantasy, and that often adults will pretend fantasy is real, sometimes for fun, but also sometimes to manipulate people.

88 isn't that old for a wizard

And besides - a proper wizard would be immortal.

Or at the very least, age in reverse.

I know a guy who does street performance gigs. He was a serious college cheerleader (doing human pyramids, trampoline routines, etc.) in his 20's. He is still going - but when only in his 50's, he talked about how physically demanding it was (even if doing no more than card tricks for kids, or riding around in costume on a "pretty easy"-height unicycle). You gotta stay in character, in your routine, with zero mistakes - hour after hour, no matter the weather.

Ok but this guy is a wizard and extremely young for a wizard at that.

Yep, age is all about your fitness in the closing chapters of life.

And a 99 year old guy just beamed into space!

Shatner is 90.

Oops I completely mixed up ages here with Betty White, another person doing exceptionally well that I just looked up.

Thanks for the correction; doing all that at 90 is still pretty good.

Sounds like he needs an apprentice

He had one: https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2019/11/the-apprentice-wiza...

It sounded like he didn't really choose to have one, just another guy showed up and said "I'm your apprentice". Though that's much like how Channell showed up in the 70s.

Hmm, I think I'm going to find someone that I want to learn from and try this. What's the difference from this and say something like stalking? I'll need to know when the police arrive.

Disagree

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