By 3 News online staff
Businessman Gareth Morgan has offered to pay for the funeral of Wellington homeless icon Ben Hana, better known as 'Blanket Man'.
Mr Hana died on Sunday afternoon, the cause yet unknown, after spending about a decade living on Courtenay Place in central Wellington.
He didn't leave behind any money to pay for a funeral, but despite not knowing what one costs, Mr Morgan will stump up with the cash.
'I don't know what a funeral costs, I've got no idea," he told Fairfax NZ News.
"I can't imagine it's too much. [The family] obviously haven't got the means to do it by the sounds of it... so I'll do that."
Mr Morgan lives "not too far" from where Mr Hana used to hang out, usually dressed in little more than a loincloth and blanket.
''I felt sad for him really, because I don't think he was in control… in a lot of ways.
''He's a Wellingtonian like the rest of us isn't he? We're all one community.''
An spontaneous street tribute to Mr Hana appeared on Courtenay Pl on Monday, with passers by leaving notes, flowers and even blankets.
"He was an extremely well-known Wellingtonian, who lived his life in his own way,” said mayor Celia Wade-Brown.
Years of alcohol abuse and malnutrition are possibly behind his death at the early age of 54.
3 News