He didn't quite disappear in a puff of dust, but Elgregoe The Magician performed his final show for Churton School students in Whanganui on Thursday.
For his final act, he pulled his hand out of a mirror, revealing that there was no hole for it to even go through andtold the students he was going back to the South Island.
For 21 years Greg Britt has been producing magic for school children, through a range of activities including card tricks, ventriloquism and illusions as Elgregoe.
He will continue to perform in the South Island, but he is happy to be cutting down his dates to spend more time with his parents and grandchildren.
Churton School principal Andrew Spence said Elgregoe had been invited back to the school for at least ten years.
The values were being respectful, responsible, caring, helpful and trustworthy. Elgregoe used a host of magical methods to present each value.
One highlight was when Carlos put on a hat that gave him an afro and a mask that made him have massive lips, which made him unable to talk.
Instead he had the ventriloquist Elgregoe to talk for him, giving Carlos a crazy laugh, singing Aretha Franklin's "Respect" and turning down $100 cash for a balloon animal.
Spence said he had no idea that Elgregoe was finishing up until the magician told him before the show.
"Having him come back on a regular basis, the kids heard his message consistently and that has been really valuable to us."
"As much as we have a voice and we like to share things, when you get to hear someone like him present it in an entertaining way, that message really sinks in with children."
