Rocky Horror Show creator denied NZ residency

The creator of the 1970s musical comedy The Rocky Horror Show, who spent part of his childhood in New Zealand, has been refused residency in the country.

Richard O'Brien, the 68-year-old British-born creator of the cult musical, wanted to retire to New Zealand but was told he did not fit the criteria for citizenship or permanent residency, the Dominion Post reported.

O'Brien migrated to New Zealand in 1952 when he was 10 and grew up in Tauranga and Hamilton, where he got the idea for the musical.

He owns land in Katikati in the Bay of Plenty, but lives in London and doesn't meet New Zealand citizenship criteria.

He has a brother and sister still living in the town of Tauranga, as did their parents until they died about four years ago and his son Josh is applying for residency after moving to New Zealand on a student visa.

The city of Hamilton, where O'Brien spent his teenage years, has honoured him with a statue of his character from The Rocky Horror Show, the creepy butler Riff Raff.

But according to immigration requirements, to be sponsored by family members for permanent residency in New Zealand O'Brien has to be aged 55 or under and have secured a job offer, criteria which he does not fit.

O'Brien told the newspaper he thought his application should be "rubber stamped" in light of his contribution to New Zealand.

"I don't understand - they build a statue of me and celebrate me as a New Zealander, but I have to go on my knees and do all sorts of things, and I'm probably too old."

His immigration adviser said an appeal would be made to the Immigration Minister to grant an exception to the policy.

- NZPA