Wellington’s famous vagrant ‘Blanket Man’ was farewelled in Waitangi Park this morning, with around 100 people paying their respects.
Street dweller Ben Hana, known to many as Blanket Man, died on Sunday afternoon aged 54.
Mr Hana was a near-permanent fixture on Wellington’s Courtenay Place, cutting a recognisable image with his tattered dreads, loin cloth and trademark blanket
A public memorial service took place at Waitangi Park at 10.15am, ahead of a family burial at Makara Cemetery.
Wellington philanthropist Gareth Morgan helped pay for Mr Hana's funeral costs and local council assisted the Hana family with the service.
He was buried in a white coffin, with a Karakia said at the car where the body was held.
An impromptu street tribute appeared on Courtenay Place at the start of this week.
Hundreds of condolence messages have been written on the white wall outside the ANZ Bank, where Mr Hana spent his days. Flowers, flags and signs were also at the site.
Wellington City Council spokesman Grahame Armstrong says photos of the shrine and other tributes will be given to Mr Hana's family. A condolence book will also be left at Downtown Community Ministry in Lukes Lane.
The owner of the building where the tributes appeared says they will be allowed to remain until next week.
Mr Hana moved to Wellington from Tokoroa in the late ‘90s, saying he wanted to be a political activist for unemployed youth. But he quickly ran foul of the authorities.
“Because the way I dress is different from the rest, I knew they'd target me as an alcoholic because that's who I hang out with,” Mr Hana once told media.
He once famously dug up part of Parliament's lawn in protest, then took the shovel to his court appearance.
His health declined over the years, through a combination of poor nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse coupled with living outside.
“I'd hate to go inside a house…man that's not my life,” he once said.
Mr Hana's lawyer Maxine Dixon told 3 News street life was a choice for him after killing his friend in a drink-driving accident.
“He was punishing himself, doing his auto-penance,” she says.
Wellington Hospital is yet to release details on the cause of Mr Hana’s death
3 News / NZN
Click 'view video' for extended footage from Ben Hana's funeral