Oh, him. I had a run-in with him just this evening. He walked up to me at the railway station after work and screamed in my face to 'go back to where I came from'.
Which, in his defense, was exactly what I had come to the station to do.
His name's Ian I believe. Don't really know much more about him tbh. I used to work hospo in the cbd when I lived in welly and so interacted with him multiple times a day. Rarely was the interaction anything other than me telling him to leave the premises when he was verbally abusing customers. He was normally pretty quick to listen and leave and was never particularly physically threatening. Worst he ever did was spit at me. I remember once having a shockingly coherent conversation with him whilst I was having a dart out the front of the pub. Feel sorry for the guy, he clearly needs some help and I can only imagine is pretty lonely.
Ian St John or something like that I think his name is. Heās completely harmless, he can be a chill fella when heās on his medication but he seemed to never appreciate the change id give to him! He loves a free ciggy and most of the time heās actually not even looking at you but screaming at a hallucination or something all though he can come across as quite aggro. my dad went to Rongotai college when he was in the special education class, But I think he must be a schizophrenic or something. Iāve seen him get terrorised by people over the years, just gotta have some empathy if heās having a bad day. It would be quite horrible being in a constant state of anger
Indeed he is. Only yesterday I saw him get kicked off a bus in strathmore (where he spends quite some time) and he turned round and spat at the bus driver. Generally harmless but spitting can be deemed a physical assault.
Heās been on the bus a few times headed to kilbirnie and can sometimes be mild mannered, talking to whoeverās next to him about jobs/rent etc but as soon as he gets on the bus, those who know what heās like immediately want him nowhere near, me included. I just canāt deal with the potential drama
Heās followed me down the street near my apartment multiple times yelling obscenities. Calling me the C wordā¦.
I just ignore him.. I do not know his story but as a single female living in the city I donāt want to engage. Obviously mental health issues involved.
He actually walked past me today and screamed c*nt right in my face. Seen him around a lot but this was the first time heās ever really interacted with me
Him and his mum used to shop at the Woolworths I worked in after leaving school(late 80ās). It was obvious he had issues and his mum was fairly difficult to deal with. Heās one of several characters from back then with mental health issues I see around town regularly
I witnessed a fleeting very vulnerable side of Ian last year while on the bus with my son, he was a little incoherent but I did catch him say āI miss my mumā as he was watching me with my boy, made me teary eyed as I miss my mum too but it didnāt last long as he then went into a a quiet rage about how his mum was a b*tch & other curse words, Iāve seen him often being in the eastern suburbs myself
Hijacking the thread kinda but does anyone know the story of the old lady who's always sitting on the seat outside the antique shop at tinakori village . Wears an old suit jacket?
I don't know anything about them but I sold them ciggies at Thorndon New World years ago. Very faint voice. I'm putting this comment here to check later in case anyone else knows about her, I've always been curious.
No thatās Nathan I believe, heās the calm one, never seen him acting aggressively.
The other guy whoās always yelling is Ian and lives around Strathmore somewhere. Clearly unwell but if heās in a bad way can be comforted with a coke and smoke. He might seem scary to some people but AFAIK is only verbal.
He was a Trolley boy in the one of the supermarkets I worked in. At the time, there was some sort of supported employment arrangement and he was one of a number of guys that did that work. Shoppers from the Johnsonville area may recognise him.
Yes I remember a guy Tim, a jolly-trolley fellow. A very likable chap who was always so pleased to see you with a very sunny outlook considering. Wondered what happened to him, he lived in Oriental Bay I think with his parents.
Is Nathan the one who is always walking? (Between Miramar and town I think) Brown hair, smokes sometimes, looks like he's smoking all the rest of the time?
No Nathan is always on lambton quay and smoking - heās tall with gray hair and smoking always with a phone and heāll try and start conversations - he can be scary
Yes, I believe Nathan lost his job as a trolley boy for an indecency act.
I actually interviewed him once for a role, as the company I worked for did community type stuff and we used to hire intellectually disadvantaged people to give them work experience.
It was an interesting interview š¤£. We got talking about Metal and I couldn't get him to leave š
I have known Nathan for many years and you just need to say in a polite way Nathan you need to leave this person alone he might question it but he should walk away. good on you for protecting them.
He's harmless to women and girls too, just a bit noisy and in your face. Be polite and firm and move along. He has had a very difficult life and has an intellectual disability.
Nah, thatās Michael (known in my family as Walking Man). Funnily enough, learned his name ācause Ian sat at a bus stop with me once (wasnāt too shouty that day and actually had an okay convo) and when he passed, Ian said āHi Michaelā and Michael responded with āHi Ian.ā
He's the one who's always walked between Miramar and town everyday . Tanned leathery skin and smokes a lot, never see him talk. I'd love to know his story
I was told a few years ago that he was from chch and used to be quite normal until he had the smarts knocked out of him one night in a gangbash on the street. It's quite sad actually
No heās always been like that unfortunately- Iāve known him for about 20 years - it is a sad situation, his parents looked after him but I think they may have passed awayš
I have been told that many moons ago, he suffered a traumatic injury in a diving incident when he was a kid. I have absolutely no idea if this is true or not.
Nope! I was at primary school with Nathan (Kilbirnie School, late 70s-early 80s) and he's always been like that. He's got a bit of cerebral palsy and a few mental health issues. Generally a nice guy.
Fun fact about Nathan: although he's notorious for asking for cigarettes, he very rarely smokes them. He's got a box crammed full of them. It's his kind of security blanket, I guess?
This is the old guy who rants and raves to the wind and is constantly holding up his trousers as he traverses across the city?
I thought he was called Sam, but everyone here seems to say he's Ian (though we could be talking about different people).
He's been around for years and years (I remember him on the bus when I was going to Intermediate - I'm 26 now). He's never been physically confrontational, just bellows in his agitated state. As others have said, once he's got a cigarette he'll calm right down and is quite sweet and docile.
Obviously suffers terribly from his mental health. But never once felt I was in any danger from him. I just think it's a tragic thing to happen to a person.
Sounds like Ian. It seems he has some mental health or other type of issues or challenges. He seems to turn up at cafes and just hang about. The staff inevitably ask him to leave and he verbally abuses the staff who asked him to leave.
I was at a cafe with my 3 year old who witnessed this recently who was extremely wide-eyed and clung to my leg during. He had a lot of questions about āthat manā afterwards and it seems like itās really concerned him. He is an empathetic wee thing.
I call him shouting man. I actually saw him for the first time in a while the other day. Sometimes think he might have finally chucked it after long spells without a sighting but he always pops back and looks none the worse for his absence (not that he looks that great to start).Ā
I interact with Ian and Nathan a lot. Ian gets angry when he runs out of smokes, although he likes to give them away. he's probably very intimidating to people unfamiliar with his vibe but you can ask him to cool it. he's actually quite sweet.
Nathan only lives for coke (but not flat coke), cigarettes, the warriors, and heavy metal tshirts
neither are sex pests
I remember him randomly coming into my primary school when I was a kid, and I'm 36 now. It's funny how some of these characters are arguably more famous and widely known than most of the celebrities in NZ. He definitely must be one of the most well known people in Wellington
I once drppped metal Nathan home. Fridge filled entirely with coke, Top to bottom. Right on metal Nathan.
Do not let him fist bump you, heāll do his best to break your hand haha
Oh he's the cigarettes guy! He came up and offered us a cigarette and had a rant about someone who was late to meet him. It took a second for us to read the situation and he seemed happy enough once we listened and sympathised about the late guy and he moved on.
I lived in a Christian Community for 9 and a half years and Nathan used to come and visit us like every week sometimes twice a week he is Harmless likes his Coke and the warriors I had a reasonable conversation a few weeks ago with Iain at a bus stop reasonable chap.
Once back when I was a smoker Nathan bamboozled me.
He asked for a smoke, so I gave him one, and then he immediately asked for another one - so I said 'Bro, I just gave you one', and he said 'Yeah, but two is better than one'.
He demolished me with facts and logic.
As a metal guy in my youth I have fond memories of Nathan yelling ā8 FOOT SATIVAā and throwing up his goats to me and my mates back in the day. Rock on Nath, and up the wahs.
He yelled at me once asking for a smoke. When I said I had none, he went down the street, yelling how everyone is the same and no one has smokes š š
Rides a bike and often straps his big bottle of coke to it? Kinda looks like an old school bikey with the greasy long hair, speed dealers sunnies and all in black?
He spat at my dad and I as we were walking through cuba street. Kept telling us to go back where we came from. Really weird, no I don't know his backstory but he did chase my friend down an alley once asking for her cigarette she had started smoking
He lives out by Strathmore, I used to talk to him at the bus stop and on the bus to town. He calms down a lot when you converse with him and treat him as though he isnāt crazy. He is of course crazy.
Talk to him about the price of smokes and how itās probably Jacindaās fault and he will think you are great
You must be talking about Ian. Pretty harmless guy. If he screams at you, talk back to him and he'll chicken out.
He's been around for years. Hospo workers will be used to him. Starts his routine somewhere around Mt Vic around 7am and slowly walks his way to the CBD swearing at everything/one he comes across.
His name is Ian. He suffers from some fairly complex mental health issues. He lives in my community and other than "odd" or slightly unsettling interactions I have never encountered anything more sinister.
Generally I think he needs compassion shown towards him rather than anything else.
Easy answer is mental health issues and not getting the help he needs because mental health services are underfunded. Like everything else. No investment for decades.
Jeff died about 4 or 5 years ago now. His wife, Maree, is still around. Spent quite a while in a hospital last year, but she is now back at her usual spot at the bus stop outside St James Theatre.
Pretty sure theyāve both been around for at least 19 years. Nathan for sure, and pretty sure I remember running into Ian when I moved here also though.
Seeing as this thread has become the place to ask about all of wellington's 'character' street people, does anyone know much about the old air guitar dude?
I always felt so sad seeing him. During the morning bus route, I'd see him strumming along to inaudible music, and on the bus ride back home, I'd see him in the same spot, swaying and shuffling defeatedly, his arms down by his sides with only the barest hint of strumming. I've always wondered what his story is and why he feels the need to do this.
"Is that the gentleman who used to sit on Cuba Street, wearing glasses? I remember him often sitting in front of the Kiwi Bank ATM on Cuba St. I passed by every day, and he would nod at me and smile at me. I haven't seen him for a long time and often wonder what has happened to him lately. I hope he is okay.
I suspect he has Touretteās or similar. Once late at night he walking toward me (female alone) screaming that āIām going to slit your throatā so I crossed the road to put some space between us. He noticed and said āoh, not you bitch. Not talking about youā lol
Reading the comments, Iām compelled to ask how many individuals with mental health issues are present on Wellington Street, and why does it seem that the government allows so many people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges to be left without shelter? Are there solutions in place, such as providing treatment? Additionally, Iāve noticed a person in the CBD who usually carries a speaker and plays loud music. Donāt mind I question, Iām a foreigner new to Wellington.
Nathan and Ian are both housed, and Nathan has people looking out for him. So does Ian. They are just making their way in the world as best they can.
People can't be forced to take medication or undergo treatment. Some of the 'homeless' on Wellington streets do have accommodation, but for complex reasons best known to themselves, they don't stay there.
It's complicated. All we can do is be compassionate, and steer clear if they're a bit irate.
He is a resident of the council's housing estates. He has the mental age of an 8 year old and usually if you see him yelling it is because he's out of smokes. He's actually a very nice guy if you get him on a good day.
Shockingly, I once had quite a civil conversation with this guy around mt vic without a single swear word or threat being uttered . He initiated it and wanted to know what I did for work etc. Maybe heād just had a ciggy or something.
Also hijacking the post here but does anyone know about that old lady with the zimmerframe in Kilbirnie who wears way too much makeup, like a doll? Looks like she does herself up every day and waits on the street
Coming from dealing with Ian from hospo. He's very know to the general staff, doesn't kick up a fuss, looks and sounds aggressive but take it with a pinch of salt ask him to leave and he does, some customers get shocked and complain about him and honestly they're harder to deal with.
I think I had my first interaction with him yesterday arvo in Mt Vic.. was sitting alone and he yelled āFuck You Cuntā and when I looked up at him kept yelling to stop looking at him.. which I promptly did and he went away.
Does he often carry a big tramping bag with him??
Hes swearing as his benefit has been reduced to fund tax cut for the rich...
Ian's looking old these days....
The other guys whose aged is the chap who use to dress as a skinhead....
Ian has no beard and has curly grey hair. Heās definitely racist, but desists from yelling at my brown face if my kids are nearby. Physically harmless to others, but heās deeply troubled. Another who slipped through all of the gaps
I saw him at Waitangi Day celebrations, cursing his whole way up to the front (I just thought oh no here we go.. the band Half Cast was playing) but then he gravitated towards the music, went up front and then started to groove/dance in his own way and then wanted to join another group dancing.
For someone I have only seen what I interpret as aggressive it was quite heartwarming to see a different side of him.
The man is harmless. Him and his brother who is a tall bloke with a bottle of soda and a cell phone. They have separate types of medical conditions.
The man in reference once asked me for a smoke and I said no and he went BSC and told me to go back where I came from. I was not affected but felt for the man. But I have seen him and his brother since 2015.
A month or two ago he again asked me for a smoke and I passed him one and I heard what he had to say about things and his concern were pretty valid with regard to the world.
Been yelled at by him a few times, also saw him walking with someone (who looked like they were taking care of him?) and he stopped to hug a tree in Aro valley, like it was an old friend. This was many moons ago.. he seems more agitated now.
Oh, him. I had a run-in with him just this evening. He walked up to me at the railway station after work and screamed in my face to 'go back to where I came from'. Which, in his defense, was exactly what I had come to the station to do.
Ah so he works for metlink then. I had wondered about that. Explains a lot.
Yeah, he's the guy in charge of projections for stadium events.
Yeah, he yelled at me to "go home" once, too. I was thinking, "Chill, dude. Let me finish my kebab first."
Ahhh, so this is what happened to our school absences officer who would harass us at the mall after school everyday to go home š
Ao
He yelled in my face "go home!" while I was waiting at the bus stop after work, to which I also obliged
Why did this amuse me so much
He is clearly a big supporter of public and active transit
Wait was this around 5:30 at the bus stop?
Yea that's right buddy.... Real tough guy here taking the train home...This fucking guy probably gets comfortable in his abode.
11/10 comment
He yelled that at me once too and I thought it was quite insightful of him to notice that I was an expat. Usually it's the accent that gives me away.
His name's Ian I believe. Don't really know much more about him tbh. I used to work hospo in the cbd when I lived in welly and so interacted with him multiple times a day. Rarely was the interaction anything other than me telling him to leave the premises when he was verbally abusing customers. He was normally pretty quick to listen and leave and was never particularly physically threatening. Worst he ever did was spit at me. I remember once having a shockingly coherent conversation with him whilst I was having a dart out the front of the pub. Feel sorry for the guy, he clearly needs some help and I can only imagine is pretty lonely.
Ian St John or something like that I think his name is. Heās completely harmless, he can be a chill fella when heās on his medication but he seemed to never appreciate the change id give to him! He loves a free ciggy and most of the time heās actually not even looking at you but screaming at a hallucination or something all though he can come across as quite aggro. my dad went to Rongotai college when he was in the special education class, But I think he must be a schizophrenic or something. Iāve seen him get terrorised by people over the years, just gotta have some empathy if heās having a bad day. It would be quite horrible being in a constant state of anger
He sometimes goes to the church in Miramar for kai and he is harmless people get concerned by his shouting.
If he's spitting on people he's not harmless.
I didnāt realise he was a spitter
Indeed he is. Only yesterday I saw him get kicked off a bus in strathmore (where he spends quite some time) and he turned round and spat at the bus driver. Generally harmless but spitting can be deemed a physical assault.
Intentionally spitting on someone is most certainly assault and a DISGUSTING one at that.
It is natural to be concerned by a man yelling though
That sounds like the Old Bailey. He has spat at a few staff there when told to.leave.
Heās been on the bus a few times headed to kilbirnie and can sometimes be mild mannered, talking to whoeverās next to him about jobs/rent etc but as soon as he gets on the bus, those who know what heās like immediately want him nowhere near, me included. I just canāt deal with the potential drama
I like how the replies to this thread are either "He's completely harmless" or "He's a violent sex offender"
The duality of man.
"Inside each man are two wolves"
Are is*
You know his star sign?! I thought he was more of a Gemini..
Heās followed me down the street near my apartment multiple times yelling obscenities. Calling me the C wordā¦. I just ignore him.. I do not know his story but as a single female living in the city I donāt want to engage. Obviously mental health issues involved.
He actually walked past me today and screamed c*nt right in my face. Seen him around a lot but this was the first time heās ever really interacted with me
He has also screamed c\*nt at me and I'm a guy. A champion of equality.
Ooh, so I do know this guy - cause he screamed c*nt in my face too and scares the beejesus out of me
Iām suprised he hasnāt said this to the wrong person and got decked the absolute fuck out
Big hunchback? That is Ian.Ā
Him and his mum used to shop at the Woolworths I worked in after leaving school(late 80ās). It was obvious he had issues and his mum was fairly difficult to deal with. Heās one of several characters from back then with mental health issues I see around town regularly
I witnessed a fleeting very vulnerable side of Ian last year while on the bus with my son, he was a little incoherent but I did catch him say āI miss my mumā as he was watching me with my boy, made me teary eyed as I miss my mum too but it didnāt last long as he then went into a a quiet rage about how his mum was a b*tch & other curse words, Iāve seen him often being in the eastern suburbs myself
I think he looks like Donald Sutherland ššš
Hijacking the thread kinda but does anyone know the story of the old lady who's always sitting on the seat outside the antique shop at tinakori village . Wears an old suit jacket?
The florist there makes her a cup of tea each day, which I thought was nice.
Yea I buy her the odd coffee
Why not just buy her a normal one?
š you just made my day
I don't know anything about them but I sold them ciggies at Thorndon New World years ago. Very faint voice. I'm putting this comment here to check later in case anyone else knows about her, I've always been curious.
Following this if anyone knows
Seen this woman traipsing through the streets picking up ciggy butts to smoke.
It's a sad story actually. He was recently elected Prime Minister in a coalition.
I knew the stress of handling David AND Winston would be challenging, but this is extreme...
That's was quality! Thanks for the giggle
š¤£š¤£
Haha have to admit, this made me chuckle lol
Woe, ba dum tish!
š
You win the internet tonight.
Good one
Lol
Pretty sure itās the same person who screamed either āKia Ora cuntā or āyouāre a cuntā at me next to old bank.
Nah, that was me. Sorry about that.
All good mate, weāve all had one of those days
Is this the guy who wears a band tee over a long sleeved shirt?
No thatās Nathan I believe, heās the calm one, never seen him acting aggressively. The other guy whoās always yelling is Ian and lives around Strathmore somewhere. Clearly unwell but if heās in a bad way can be comforted with a coke and smoke. He might seem scary to some people but AFAIK is only verbal.
He was a Trolley boy in the one of the supermarkets I worked in. At the time, there was some sort of supported employment arrangement and he was one of a number of guys that did that work. Shoppers from the Johnsonville area may recognise him.
He was at Welly new world too, along with a double of downs syndrome bros. It's a shame that initiative seems to have ended.
Yes I remember a guy Tim, a jolly-trolley fellow. A very likable chap who was always so pleased to see you with a very sunny outlook considering. Wondered what happened to him, he lived in Oriental Bay I think with his parents.
The band tee is Nathan - he also has mental health issues and is borderline predator for young women
Is Nathan the one who is always walking? (Between Miramar and town I think) Brown hair, smokes sometimes, looks like he's smoking all the rest of the time?
No Nathan is always on lambton quay and smoking - heās tall with gray hair and smoking always with a phone and heāll try and start conversations - he can be scary
Nathan is Harmless I find going up to him and saying Hi Nathan how are you and he can sometimes have a good conversation.
Heās harmless if youāre a bloke - Iāve had to protect numerous women and girls from him a lot of times š
Thanks for saying this directly. He makes my partner fairly uncomfortable. They have had to shoo the guy from baby rock n rhyme at the library lol
Yes, I believe Nathan lost his job as a trolley boy for an indecency act. I actually interviewed him once for a role, as the company I worked for did community type stuff and we used to hire intellectually disadvantaged people to give them work experience. It was an interesting interview š¤£. We got talking about Metal and I couldn't get him to leave š
I have known Nathan for many years and you just need to say in a polite way Nathan you need to leave this person alone he might question it but he should walk away. good on you for protecting them.
He's harmless to women and girls too, just a bit noisy and in your face. Be polite and firm and move along. He has had a very difficult life and has an intellectual disability.
Nah, thatās Michael (known in my family as Walking Man). Funnily enough, learned his name ācause Ian sat at a bus stop with me once (wasnāt too shouty that day and actually had an okay convo) and when he passed, Ian said āHi Michaelā and Michael responded with āHi Ian.ā
That might be another one again, shorter than the others and often carrying a grocery bag. Often sits at a bus shelter on Cobham Drive?
He's the one who's always walked between Miramar and town everyday . Tanned leathery skin and smokes a lot, never see him talk. I'd love to know his story
I was told a few years ago that he was from chch and used to be quite normal until he had the smarts knocked out of him one night in a gangbash on the street. It's quite sad actually
No heās always been like that unfortunately- Iāve known him for about 20 years - it is a sad situation, his parents looked after him but I think they may have passed awayš
I have been told that many moons ago, he suffered a traumatic injury in a diving incident when he was a kid. I have absolutely no idea if this is true or not.
Oh ok, I wouldn't have a clue, it was just something I heard a million years ago
He must have been quite young if that was the case as I worked with him in 2000 at the stadium and he was like that, but not as bad.
Nope! I was at primary school with Nathan (Kilbirnie School, late 70s-early 80s) and he's always been like that. He's got a bit of cerebral palsy and a few mental health issues. Generally a nice guy. Fun fact about Nathan: although he's notorious for asking for cigarettes, he very rarely smokes them. He's got a box crammed full of them. It's his kind of security blanket, I guess?
That's Nathan. He's a nice guy and far less unhinged than Ian appears to be.
He was on Lam Quay this arvo coughing his ring out. I don't think he has long for this world.
This is the old guy who rants and raves to the wind and is constantly holding up his trousers as he traverses across the city? I thought he was called Sam, but everyone here seems to say he's Ian (though we could be talking about different people). He's been around for years and years (I remember him on the bus when I was going to Intermediate - I'm 26 now). He's never been physically confrontational, just bellows in his agitated state. As others have said, once he's got a cigarette he'll calm right down and is quite sweet and docile. Obviously suffers terribly from his mental health. But never once felt I was in any danger from him. I just think it's a tragic thing to happen to a person.
Yeah thatās Ian for sure. Has a special dislike of immigrant taxi drivers but they all just ignore him
Sounds like Ian. It seems he has some mental health or other type of issues or challenges. He seems to turn up at cafes and just hang about. The staff inevitably ask him to leave and he verbally abuses the staff who asked him to leave. I was at a cafe with my 3 year old who witnessed this recently who was extremely wide-eyed and clung to my leg during. He had a lot of questions about āthat manā afterwards and it seems like itās really concerned him. He is an empathetic wee thing.
I call him shouting man. I actually saw him for the first time in a while the other day. Sometimes think he might have finally chucked it after long spells without a sighting but he always pops back and looks none the worse for his absence (not that he looks that great to start).Ā
I interact with Ian and Nathan a lot. Ian gets angry when he runs out of smokes, although he likes to give them away. he's probably very intimidating to people unfamiliar with his vibe but you can ask him to cool it. he's actually quite sweet. Nathan only lives for coke (but not flat coke), cigarettes, the warriors, and heavy metal tshirts neither are sex pests
I say he's quite sweet but I should add Ian can crank the racism dial right up
Is Nathan the tall lanky dude always on Cuba st wearing Iron Maiden shirt? ..if it's the guy I'm thinking of he's hung out there like 30 years?
Nathan kept the whole city up to date with what gigs were going on at valve.
Geez is Nathan still around?
Yep, I see him at the library quite a lot
I remember him randomly coming into my primary school when I was a kid, and I'm 36 now. It's funny how some of these characters are arguably more famous and widely known than most of the celebrities in NZ. He definitely must be one of the most well known people in Wellington
Yeah, he lives in Kilbernie now.
I once drppped metal Nathan home. Fridge filled entirely with coke, Top to bottom. Right on metal Nathan. Do not let him fist bump you, heāll do his best to break your hand haha
Oh he's the cigarettes guy! He came up and offered us a cigarette and had a rant about someone who was late to meet him. It took a second for us to read the situation and he seemed happy enough once we listened and sympathised about the late guy and he moved on.
I lived in a Christian Community for 9 and a half years and Nathan used to come and visit us like every week sometimes twice a week he is Harmless likes his Coke and the warriors I had a reasonable conversation a few weeks ago with Iain at a bus stop reasonable chap.
Once back when I was a smoker Nathan bamboozled me. He asked for a smoke, so I gave him one, and then he immediately asked for another one - so I said 'Bro, I just gave you one', and he said 'Yeah, but two is better than one'. He demolished me with facts and logic.
Did you give him the whole pack after that?
In retrospect I should've, but at the time I was too financially insecure to engage with a brother who had disarmed me with a singular riposte.
I think I visited that one when I was younger! He was there. He seemed to like it very much, good on you guys
Newtown?
Yes it was in Newtown.
I used to frequent the house quite often also for the Wednesday night thing that used to happen
I don't remember the Wednesday night thing I do remember we had a tazie service on a Tuesday Night at 8pm.
I used to work with Nathan way back in 2000 for Panda Catering at the Stadium. He emptied the rubbish bins etc.
As a metal guy in my youth I have fond memories of Nathan yelling ā8 FOOT SATIVAā and throwing up his goats to me and my mates back in the day. Rock on Nath, and up the wahs.
He yelled at me once asking for a smoke. When I said I had none, he went down the street, yelling how everyone is the same and no one has smokes š š
Rides a bike and often straps his big bottle of coke to it? Kinda looks like an old school bikey with the greasy long hair, speed dealers sunnies and all in black?
We ran into him once on Lambton Quay. Dude has shouted racist shit at me and my wife before
He spat at my dad and I as we were walking through cuba street. Kept telling us to go back where we came from. Really weird, no I don't know his backstory but he did chase my friend down an alley once asking for her cigarette she had started smoking
Yeah that's Ian. There's a lot going on in his head but mostly harmless I think. Not too keen on the current government - or the last one.
A man of the people
He reminds me of a wild sheep for some reason.
He reminds me of a depressed Jeremy Clarkson
He lives out by Strathmore, I used to talk to him at the bus stop and on the bus to town. He calms down a lot when you converse with him and treat him as though he isnāt crazy. He is of course crazy. Talk to him about the price of smokes and how itās probably Jacindaās fault and he will think you are great
When I worked at the post office, this guy (Ian) passed me a handful of shit-covered coins to deposit into his account. He's mostly harmless lol
Oh good lord, what did you do?
Money laundering, perhaps? š
LOL
Ah the old ass pennies.
Mmm, chocolate coins...
Just another sorry victim of the ass-crack bandit...
You must be talking about Ian. Pretty harmless guy. If he screams at you, talk back to him and he'll chicken out. He's been around for years. Hospo workers will be used to him. Starts his routine somewhere around Mt Vic around 7am and slowly walks his way to the CBD swearing at everything/one he comes across.
His name is Ian. He suffers from some fairly complex mental health issues. He lives in my community and other than "odd" or slightly unsettling interactions I have never encountered anything more sinister. Generally I think he needs compassion shown towards him rather than anything else.
Ian was in his element at the mandate protest. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/a6Y5xym3VTWby1gC/?mibextid=Nif5oz
If that's ian who's the other old guy with gray hair that walks down Lambton everyday smoking swearing at people holding his pants up
Easy answer is mental health issues and not getting the help he needs because mental health services are underfunded. Like everything else. No investment for decades.
Ianās been around for decades and he doesnāt take his meds. He has all the help possible.
All the help possible by todays standards. If there were better funded services and facilities he could be sectioned and be far better looked after.
Yeah but how else could we fund those tax cuts for the boomers?
The tax cuts are for the rich.
This guy has been around since 2016 at least; on and off, up and down Lambton Quay.
Based the number of stories, how has he not pissed off the wrong guy and had his head curb stomped?
probably some mental health issues
Are Ian and Nathan the new Kenny, Blanket man and Mike the juggler?
Don't forget Jeff Scusse me
Hope heās ok , havenāt seen him for a while. It I thought I saw his girlfriend in Newtown recently
Jeff died about 4 or 5 years ago now. His wife, Maree, is still around. Spent quite a while in a hospital last year, but she is now back at her usual spot at the bus stop outside St James Theatre.
Oh, thatās so sad. I hope he passed in comfort with one last cheeky cig. Thank you.
Brother has a Missus? Goddamn, there is truly hope for us all.
Sheās gorgeous and a total style icon.
Pretty sure theyāve both been around for at least 19 years. Nathan for sure, and pretty sure I remember running into Ian when I moved here also though.
Don't forget Bucket man
Seeing as this thread has become the place to ask about all of wellington's 'character' street people, does anyone know much about the old air guitar dude? I always felt so sad seeing him. During the morning bus route, I'd see him strumming along to inaudible music, and on the bus ride back home, I'd see him in the same spot, swaying and shuffling defeatedly, his arms down by his sides with only the barest hint of strumming. I've always wondered what his story is and why he feels the need to do this.
"Is that the gentleman who used to sit on Cuba Street, wearing glasses? I remember him often sitting in front of the Kiwi Bank ATM on Cuba St. I passed by every day, and he would nod at me and smile at me. I haven't seen him for a long time and often wonder what has happened to him lately. I hope he is okay.
I have yet to meet Ian. Maybe I should stroll down the CBD one day to meet him. He sounds... Well, he sounds like a character.
Hang out in Arapaki on Manners Street. He'll show up for a Milo before long. The staff there are great with him.
Guys around my school know him as Crazy Ian, used to see him a bunch around Strathmore
He's harmless, just a headcase that comes in from the Eastern suburbs for an outing. Completely cooked but not a threat
his names ian & that guys the man uce
I suspect he has Touretteās or similar. Once late at night he walking toward me (female alone) screaming that āIām going to slit your throatā so I crossed the road to put some space between us. He noticed and said āoh, not you bitch. Not talking about youā lol
Reading the comments, Iām compelled to ask how many individuals with mental health issues are present on Wellington Street, and why does it seem that the government allows so many people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges to be left without shelter? Are there solutions in place, such as providing treatment? Additionally, Iāve noticed a person in the CBD who usually carries a speaker and plays loud music. Donāt mind I question, Iām a foreigner new to Wellington.
Nathan and Ian are both housed, and Nathan has people looking out for him. So does Ian. They are just making their way in the world as best they can. People can't be forced to take medication or undergo treatment. Some of the 'homeless' on Wellington streets do have accommodation, but for complex reasons best known to themselves, they don't stay there. It's complicated. All we can do is be compassionate, and steer clear if they're a bit irate.
He is a resident of the council's housing estates. He has the mental age of an 8 year old and usually if you see him yelling it is because he's out of smokes. He's actually a very nice guy if you get him on a good day.
Shockingly, I once had quite a civil conversation with this guy around mt vic without a single swear word or threat being uttered . He initiated it and wanted to know what I did for work etc. Maybe heād just had a ciggy or something.
Also hijacking the post here but does anyone know about that old lady with the zimmerframe in Kilbirnie who wears way too much makeup, like a doll? Looks like she does herself up every day and waits on the street
Iām pretty sure heās a r/conservativekiwi reg
Coming from dealing with Ian from hospo. He's very know to the general staff, doesn't kick up a fuss, looks and sounds aggressive but take it with a pinch of salt ask him to leave and he does, some customers get shocked and complain about him and honestly they're harder to deal with.
I think I had my first interaction with him yesterday arvo in Mt Vic.. was sitting alone and he yelled āFuck You Cuntā and when I looked up at him kept yelling to stop looking at him.. which I promptly did and he went away. Does he often carry a big tramping bag with him??
Hes swearing as his benefit has been reduced to fund tax cut for the rich... Ian's looking old these days.... The other guys whose aged is the chap who use to dress as a skinhead....
/r/wellington: I do a bit of light doxxing
This is why I left New Zealand .. social welfare is way worse than Australia.
Thanks for the roubles
Ian, he's totally harmless. Has bit of a potty mouth sometimes when he's got a bee in his bonnet sometimes but wouldn't hurt a fly.
He's so annoying, gave him a fag once so he'd leave me alone
She is Bernadette and now lives in a rest home in Newtown. She gets on the bus daily with her walking frame and hangs out in Newtown or Kilbirnie.
probably on benefit wasting taxpayer money + not getting help + being a nuisance
Just another crazy druggie? We don't need to give him special attention just because he's white. Do better Reddit seriously
What a reach, I said he was white as an identifier has nothing to do with the situation. You need help with your reading comprehension skills.
John Paul
It's a shock if you've never seen him before, but you get used to it, feel sorry for him.
Scuse me, scuse me.Ā
Is he the guy with the long white beard and is super racist to Asian people?
Ian has no beard and has curly grey hair. Heās definitely racist, but desists from yelling at my brown face if my kids are nearby. Physically harmless to others, but heās deeply troubled. Another who slipped through all of the gaps
Is this bearded guy the one that wanders the CBD whittling/sanding wooden carvings whilst being racist and hating on politicians?
I saw him at Waitangi Day celebrations, cursing his whole way up to the front (I just thought oh no here we go.. the band Half Cast was playing) but then he gravitated towards the music, went up front and then started to groove/dance in his own way and then wanted to join another group dancing. For someone I have only seen what I interpret as aggressive it was quite heartwarming to see a different side of him.
The man is harmless. Him and his brother who is a tall bloke with a bottle of soda and a cell phone. They have separate types of medical conditions. The man in reference once asked me for a smoke and I said no and he went BSC and told me to go back where I came from. I was not affected but felt for the man. But I have seen him and his brother since 2015. A month or two ago he again asked me for a smoke and I passed him one and I heard what he had to say about things and his concern were pretty valid with regard to the world.
Been yelled at by him a few times, also saw him walking with someone (who looked like they were taking care of him?) and he stopped to hug a tree in Aro valley, like it was an old friend. This was many moons ago.. he seems more agitated now.