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in his hostel, which also caused the deaths of four others. After his death was confirmed, flowers and three oranges representing juggling balls were placed on his usual juggling spot, outside the
Westpac bank in Lampton Quay. Over 200 people subsequently wrote messages for him on an online tribute
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Wahrlich was hospitalised in 2022 after being badly assaulted at his hostel, and was discharged from hospital about a month later. As a result of the assault, a 39-year-old was arrested and charged with intent to do bodily harm, and was remanded in custody.
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In the late 90s, Wahrlich met a man playing the guitar in
Manners Mall, and after seeing him succeed, Wahrlich decided that he would also entertain the public in Manners Mall, by juggling tennis balls. He would often do this wearing a tracksuit, or what
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In 2022 Wellington City councillor Nicola Young described him as a "city institution", and another councillor, Laurie Foon, said "Mike has been on the streets of
Wellington since most of us Wellingtonians can remember".
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book. His funeral was open to the public and was held on 26 May. It was attended by 120 people in person and 300 people online, including
Wellington Mayor
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After moving to
Wellington, Wahrlich became a lawnmower for the Wellington City Council in the 1980s, and was later made redundant.
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described as a "Signature blue jumper and baggy pants". When
Manners Mall was closed he started juggling on
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567:"Loafers Lodge fire: Open funeral to be held for Mike the Juggler killed in blaze"
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658:"Loafers Lodge fire: Wellingtonians farewell Mike the Juggler at open funeral"
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near the start of its history, when it was run by the
Ministry of Education.
631:"Mourners farewell Loafers Lodge fire victim Mike 'The Juggler' Wahrlich"
601:"Loafers Lodge fire: Wellingtonians invited to farewell Mike the Juggler"
357:"Mourners farewell Loafers Lodge fire victim Mike 'The Juggler' Wahrlich"
297:"Mourners farewell Loafers Lodge fire victim Mike 'The Juggler' Wahrlich"
498:"Wellington says goodbye to Loafers Lodge fire victim, Mike the Juggler"
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387:"How Mike Wahrlich became 'the juggler', and the lessons it leaves us"
117:, was a New Zealand busker who juggled tennis balls in the streets of
467:"Street identity 'Mike the Juggler' among Loafers Lodge fire victims"
268:"Wellington's juggling busker back in business after vicious assault"
533:"Popular juggling busker hospitalised after assault in Wellington"
438:"Hundreds attend funeral for Loafers fire victim Mike the Juggler"
332:"Wellington juggler Mike Wahrlich fondly remembered at funeral"
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235:"Street juggler's family invites community to attend funeral"
412:"Long Read: How Mike Wahrlich became 'the juggler'"
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196:Wahrlich died on 16 May 2023, aged 67, in the
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121:for about three decades. He died in the
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137:on 27 June 1955 and grew up in
27:New Zealand juggler (1955–2023)
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113:(1955–2023), better known as
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133:Wahrlich was born in
111:Michael Eric Wahrlich
36:Michael Eric Wahrlich
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135:Wellington Hospital
75:Cause of death
198:Loafers Lodge fire
176:bank, and also in
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18:Mike Eric Wahrlich
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170:Lambton Quay
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63:(2023-05-16)
45:27 June 1955
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696:2023 deaths
691:1955 births
203:Tory Whanau
178:Cuba Street
88:New Zealand
85:Nationality
61:16 May 2023
685:Categories
209:References
172:outside a
150:Lower Hutt
129:Early life
119:Wellington
101:Occupation
69:Wellington
49:Wellington
701:Jugglers
442:Newshub
174:Westpac
139:Porirua
104:Juggler
156:Career
669:9 May
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548:Stuff
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336:1News
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240:Stuff
192:Death
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57:Died
42:Born
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