Christchurch magician Greg Britt, pictured with friends yesterday, has been amazing crowds in the Meridian mall with his tricks and ventriloquism this week.
''I think the appeal of magic is that it's fun to be fooled,'' Mr Britt, who goes by the name ''Elgregoe'', said yesterday.
''There's been a big revival in magic with the Dynamo: Magician Impossible programme on TV.
When I was a kid it was David Copperfield. Now, all the kids want to be Dynamo.''
Magic could be a potent force to young children and Mr Britt used his powers to spread an anti-bullying message, ''You've Got the Power'', which he has performed at George Street Normal, St Francis Xavier, Opoho and St Joseph's Cathedral schools in the past two weeks.
Mr Britt was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2009 for services to education. He is appearing in the Meridian daily until Sunday.
