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Wellington farewells Blanket Man this morning

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Thu, 19 Jan 2012 7:10a.m.

Ben 'Blanket Man' Hana

Ben 'Blanket Man' Hana

Wellington residents will this morning farewell one of the capital's most notorious residents - the street vagrant known as 'Blanket Man'.

Fifty-four-year-old Ben Hana died in hospital at the weekend, thought to be due to complications brought on by alcohol abuse and poor eating.

A service for him will be held at Waitangi Park just after 10am before he is buried at Makara Cemetery. It will be paid for by businessman and philanthropist Gareth Morgan.

Mr Hana didn't leave behind any money to pay for his own funeral, but despite not knowing what one costs, Mr Morgan says he 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.''

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Comments

20 Jan 2012 08:01a.m.

c.jones wrote:

I remembered Blanket man years ago when visiting wellington so couldnt believe it when I saw him sitting in the street last year in june, like he had never shifted. People just moved around him getting on with thier lives as if he wasnt there. I dont understand why he was left to exist like this in a society where we do not compare to third world countries. In Tauranga, he would have been removed long ago. Maybe wellington is so much bigger that one can go un noticed. This man gave up on life, but he obviously still wanted to feel a part of something, and around other human beings to place himself smack in the middle of a city like that? Was help ever sought for him? Was he in just his loin cloth through the winter months and windy wellington weather? was there anyone at all that knew him? gees I just find it hard to believe really. he was a victim of his own life it seems and that was on display for everyone to see. It makes me wonder what must have gone so wrong for him to choose existing rather than living. His mental health would have suffered most definatley added to the fact he drank and didnt eat well. His attitude as mentioned when he would abuse people or expose himself was just a by product of the bigger picture.It was not heart warming to see him there,it was heart breaking. I am Maori myself and cannot believe no one was able to get him up and out of there. Actually they did, hes there now.

19 Jan 2012 11:25a.m.

kiwi wrote:

could not agree more with the last to coments

19 Jan 2012 10:26a.m.

Martin wrote:

I agree with J Appleby. This person was the ilustration of a lazy rude thoughtless person that contributed nothing to society. I'm surprised Simon Barnett is not paying for the funeral.

19 Jan 2012 08:15a.m.

J Appleby wrote:

WHy has a man who epitomised everything we either reject or scorn in society suddenly become a national hero? He was a racist alcoholic who had a habit of periodically abusing people or exposing himself and they want to give him a plaque for this?