Bernard Hana, a.k.a. "Blanket Man" (1957 – 15 January 2012), was a homeless man who wandered the inner city streets of Wellington, New Zealand. He was a local fixture and something of a celebrity and was typically found on the footpath in the precincts of Cuba Street and Courtenay Place. and claimed that he should wear as few items of clothing as possible, as an act of religious observance. As a result, he would sometimes remove all his clothing, which resulted in the attendance of police officers.

His nickname "Blanket Man" was a reference to his usual mode of dress, which was a single blanket, as a form of self-penance.

Early life

Hana was born in Inglewood, New Zealand in 1957 to a Jehovah's Witness family. and fathering four children.

Judicial hearings and convictions

Hana was arrested and imprisoned several times for offences, including public nudity and possession of cannabis. His criminal record reportedly ran 17 pages long.

In 2010, a judge ordered that Hana be detained under the Mental Health Act 1992, and he was admitted to Wellington Hospital's psychiatric ward Te Whare O Matairangi, where "he will have clean clothes, regular meals, and no access to drink and drugs". In the same year, he was released back onto the streets without any notable change in character.

In media

Hana featured in several works:

  • Te Whanau o Aotearoa — Caretakers of the Land, a 2003 New Zealand documentary film by Errol Wright and Abi King-Jones
  • In 2007, Victoria University of Wellington sociology lecturer Mike Lloyd and PhD student Bronwyn McGovern delivered a presentation titled "World Famous in Wellington: Blanket Man as contemporary celebrity" to the New Zealand Folklore Symposium.
  • Tom Hunt – "The man behind the blanket", The Dominion Post (2010)
  • The 2012 tribute song "Blanket Man", written by Leon Mitchell, sung by Michael Murphy, recorded and released by ZM radio

Death

Hana, aged 54, died at Wellington Hospital at 3:35 p.m. on 15 January 2012 of suspected viral myocarditis. A temporary shrine was created outside the ANZ Bank on Courtenay Place, a location where Hana could often be found. Messages were written on the building's facade, and flowers, candles, food, and other items were left in tribute.

Among those who paid tribute were Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown and sports athlete Sonny Bill Williams. His funeral was paid for by philanthropist Gareth Morgan.

See also

  • Vagrancy

References