"Dear Mick,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your hard working committee on organising and staging one of the best conventions I have seen in many years, and I go back to the 1962 Sydney convention. Your sumptuous meals were outstanding, a facet missing from today's conventions. You all deserve a gold watch and chain and I certainly hope you keep up the successful work with future conventions."
- Joe Lewis,
Queensland Australia
"I was one of the lucky ones to attend, and once again this young club did an outstanding job. I understand it was the largest gathering ever of magicians in our country. The venue, Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre together with the onsite theatre was excellent, all events under one roof. The line up of overseas guests read like an overseas convention, all lived up to their reputations. The grand master, Paul Daniels, act as known, was superb. Whit Haydn with his laid-back style, and what a gentleman. John Carney, ever so clever, ventriloquist Darren Carr of "gottle of geer" fame, very professional. Our own home grown Paul Romhany now achieving everything he had dreamt of as a youngster. The competitions, something that is part of our tradition, proved that we amateurs have not lost our enthusiasm. Special mention must be made of some of the younger performers with remarkable acts. To all competitors, thank you for the entertainment. The dealers did their best to part us with our money, why is it if you see something you like, and just must have, it is always so expensive? So to Mick and Bruce and their enthusiastic team members, a big and genuine thank you. You have certainly set the bar high for the next one ... has the date been set yet?"
- Don Garlick
"I'm not one to gossip but ... Queen's Birthday Weekend I had the pleasure of being Master of Ceremonies at the 30th New Zealand International Magicians Convention award night and banquet at Waipuna Hotel and what a night it was. The evening was hosted by the Shore City Magicians Club Inc, headed by their President and Convention Chairman Mick Peck. It was great to see young kiwi magicians both male and female collecting their awards. The "International Stars of Magic" show was simply the greatest lineup of magicians ever assembled in New Zealand, from Hollywood, Australia and the UK, not to mention our own master of magic gold medal illusionist Paul Romhany as Charlie Chaplin, as always he was just superb! I felt that Australian comedy ventriloquist Darren Carr and Whit "Pop" Haydn from Hollywood stole the show, their patter and style was faultless with effortless timing and adlibbing to the very split second. If the word class-act ever got published in the dictionary it should simply say Darren Carr and Whit Haydn. UK magician Paul Daniels was billed as the star of the show, Paul is an old pro at performing and never short of an adlib or hamming it up to an audience. He certainly is a master of his craft."
- David Hartnell MNZM
Relive portions of the Convention Banquet and Prizegiving
courtesy of YouTube : Part 1 Part 2 Part 3