Ben Hana first arrived in Wellington from the south-east Coast in the summer of 2001 at which time he began living on the streets of the central city, notably Cuba Mall and Courtenay Place. Before Ben became a feature of Wellington, he lived in front of the court house in Tokoroa, and in fact caused controversy in the town when he was convicted of stealing and selling the Court house's copper guttering for scrap. He could frequently be seen in the streets dancing to the music of his ghetto blaster. Known for sitting or lying on traffic islands during his period of sun worship, there were calls for his removal from the street. In 2002 he was arrested for vagrancy and held in prison for seven weeks. Charges were eventually dropped, but he was later arrested again, this time for smoking a peace pipe in Cuba Mall. He was released on condition that he not return to the Mall, although how this was intended to be enforced was unclear. After his removal from the Mall he spent several weeks living with other vagrants on the base of the Wellington cenotaph. This abode was visible from the offices of many Members of Parliament, and before long New Zealand First leader Winston Peters complained about Hana's presence to police, saying that the vagrants were desecrating an important monument. They were subsequently moved on.

In mid 2004, Ben was spotted walking down Ponsonby Road in Auckland. By December 2005, the neighbouring businesses had employed security guards in order to keep Hana and his colleagues away from his normal abode in Courtenay Place. Although he used to wear a pair of khaki trousers, they rotted away into ripped shreds, and so he just retained a loincloth to satisfy the letter of the law. The only other item of clothing he's been seen to wear recently is a red t-shirt. In August 2006 his purple blanket was stolen and he has been donated a new blanket with red and white koru on. He developed a taste for Jelly tips in July 2006. He is also a fan of Fanta. Ben has been seen drinking a Bulleit brand bourbon and cola. Whether this is his favourite alcoholic beverage is unknown.

Contrary to popular belief, Ben does not have an iPod, just a small FM radio. When asked about and his taste in music, Ben's response was "Rock and I listen to a pirate station. I can listen to rock all day, and all night". Ben is constantly seen mumbling to himself, some people think he is mad

Here are some various articles about Blanket Man.


A Different Way of Life
By Marcelina Mastalerz

Interview with ‘Brother’ (a.k.a ‘Blanket Man’)

He has become an iconic figure of Wellington’s Cuba Mall and Courtenay Place. Wrapped in a purple blanket, nearly naked, with his long dreads and carefree spirit, to many he is an annoying homeless man who simply won’t go away and who is destroying the beautiful, clean image of our city.

At least this was my opinion of him when I first arrived to Wellington. I would see him, make a sour face and above all avoid eye contact as I quickly crossed the street. After all, his lifestyle and that of mine seemed to illustrate two contrasting worlds, which neither of us would ever understand.

But I started to wonder, who is this ever-present figure, who has no shame in living a lifestyle that society finds unacceptable and degenerating? Surely he must be either an alcoholic, drug addict, insane or all of the above, right?

No. ‘Brother’, what he likes to call himself, is neither an alcoholic nor an unhappy man. He likes his lifestyle, and above all the freedom, which it gives him.

I decided to learn more about him and his way of life as we sat in the fancy location of the pavement outside Burger King on Courtenay Place.

M: Hello, what’s your name?

B: Brother.

M : You have an interesting lifestyle. What do you like about your way of life?

B: Freedom. No bills, no worries (hahaha..)

M: If someone said, ‘Brother, why don’t you get a