he revolutionary break with conventional notions of reality which took place when the social science academic became the official University Wizard led to a complete "revaluation of all values", especially those of personal identity. Since 1969, the Wizard, as a transformed being, set about the destruction of his former political, moral, rational and legal identity and began to reconstruct these on different foundations.

Since that year he has had no bank account, no driving licence, no credit cards, no passport, no income tax number, and has been part of no social welfare scheme as a legal person. Present documentation (driving licence and passport) is in the name of the Wizard as a Living Work of Art and this title has not been registered by deed poll.

Every five years the population of New Zealand is required by law to complete personal census forms and this is the only occasion when individuals have to supply statements of identity and personal behaviour to the Government. Of course such details are required for those wishing to receive welfare benefits, obtain licences, run businesses etc. However an individual who is able to live outside the law in this way by being entirely self-reliant has no personal need to supply such information. If the Wizard were able to design and complete his own census form he would have no difficulty in complying with the law. Unfortunately the assumptions underlying the questions completely contradict his newly created identity.

In 1976 the Wizard found a loophole in the census legislation and after some years of court cases was discharged, with expenses paid, by the Appeals Court. This loophole was later closed by Act of Parliament.

In 1981, at the time of the census, the Wizard and some of his apprentices held a Nonsensus Party on a yacht at sea just beyond the twelve mile limit. The eyes of the whole country were focussed on them and they were accompanied by a radio journalist. No court proceedings were instituted on this occasion.

In 1986 the Wizard informed the Statistics Department and the media that he would cast a disappearing spell on himself at midnight and would reappear at noon the next day. The Department did not believe in his powers and he was taken to court. The magistrate found that althought there was no evidence that he had not vanished during that time the "man in the street" would agree with him that the Wizard must have been hiding somewhere.

Affronted by this lack of trust and belief the Wizard, who by now had become an important tourist attraction in Christchurch, went on strike. Thousands of tourists and locals were distressed by his absence in the Square. The Wizard informed them that they had a choice in determining his identity: if the "man in the street" would not believe he was a wizard who could vanish in the traditional manner he would return back to the role of a tax-payer-funded social science academic.

Petitions to Parliament were supplied by the Canterbury Tourism Council and circulated for visitors and New Zealanders to complete, stating that they believed the Wizard vanished on census night. Its success was extraordinary and included amongst the signatories were several Members of Parliament, Mayors and even the odd priest and the entire Canterbury football team, following a successful spell against the Australians. The Statistics Department decided not to pursue the matter any further.

In 1991 a joint truce was declared and neither the Wizard nor the Government Statistician would confirm or deny whether any form was completed.

In 1996 the Wizard was in Australia, so no evasive action was required.