Characters
- Ben Hana was a famous homeless man who could often be found around the streets of Te Aro in a blanket and a loin cloth. He died in January 2012.
- Mark Blumsky is a former mayor and was a list MP for the National Party from 2005–2008. Blumsky lives in Te Aro and had a notorious evening during the 2005 election campaign, which resulted in him sporting bruises and a black eye.
- Tom Beard, architecture and urban issues commentator.
- Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First Party and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005–2008, was not a Te Aro resident but was jocularly referred to as the Member for Courtenay Place. This referred to his supposed penchant for a wee dram, and to a high-profile late night argument with a taxi driver.
- Colin Martien is a notable busker who as eschewed traditional instrumentation in favour of his own distinctive, heavily distorted a cappella vocal style. Usually seen wearing the headdress of a Native American chieftain.
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Famous quotes containing the word characters:
“To marry a man out of pity is folly; and, if you think you are going to influence the kind of fellow who has “never had a chance, poor devil,” you are profoundly mistaken. One can only influence the strong characters in life, not the weak; and it is the height of vanity to suppose that you can make an honest man of anyone.”
—Margot Asquith (1864–1945)
“My characters never die screaming in rage. They attempt to pull themselves back together and go on. And that’s basically a conservative view of life.”
—Jane Smiley (b. 1949)
“Though they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)