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Monique Bennett gets up high to write her tribute to Blanket Man on the wall. 'He deserves it,' she says. - Source: Fairfax
Ben Hana aka 'Blanket Man' - Source: Facebook -
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Around 120 people have gathered to pay their final respects to well-known Wellington vagrant Ben Hana, known as Blanket Man.
A public service was held in typical windy Wellington weather at Waitangi Park this morning to farewell Hana, who died in Wellington Hospital on Sunday.
His brother, Tony Hana, said although he lost touch with him at times, he respected the way he lived his life.
Tony said the last time he saw his brother he said "the next time you see me I'll be in a pauper's grave".
Hana's lawyer Maxine Dixon said he was a complex man who had very strong ideas about how the world should be.
Dixon said a lot of things have been said about Ben Hana, but people should focus on the good.
Council spokesman Grahame Armstrong said a hearse would drive into Waitangi Park, through Herd St, then in front of the Chaffers Marina apartments.
Tributes on a shrine erected for Blanket Man in Courtenay Place will be removed next week.
The shrine has continued to grow since the weekend, with more and more people writing messages of condolence on the ANZ building walls.
Those messages included one from Palmerston North woman Monique Bennett, who came to Wellington yesterday with her mother to pay their respects to Hana.
Bennett, 18, said she used to give him food and would talk to him when she walked past.
She climbed up the railings to write her message high on the wall.
It read "Rest in Peace Blanket Man, we will always miss you", which she did not consider graffiti.
"It's everyone showing their love and appreciation ... he deserves it."
The council had spoken with the owner of the building where the shrine has been erected as well as family members and it had been agreed the shrine could remain until Tuesday, Armstrong said.
He understood it would be removed after that. The council was
organising for photos to be taken of the shrine and for any
tributes and pictures to be given to the family.
The owner of the building declined to comment.
The public service was to be followed by burial at Makara Cemetery.
A condolence book for Hana will be placed at the Downtown Community Ministry in Lukes Lane.
The service was paid for by Wellington businessman Gareth Morgan.
