19 Jan 2012

Funeral held for Wellington's 'Blanket Man'

6:22 pm on 19 January 2012

A public funeral for Wellington homeless man Ben Hana, known as Blanket Man, has taken place.

Mr Hana died in Wellington Hospital on Sunday afternoon.

He had been known for sitting on the street wearing only a blanket and a loin cloth and had a long history of alcohol abuse.

Wellington businessman Gareth Morgan had offered to pay for the funeral held at Waitangi Park on Thursday morning.

About 200 people turned out to farewell Mr Hana.