By Josh Heslop
Rocky Horror Picture Show creator Richard O'Brien has finally become a New Zealand citizen.
The colourful personality decided he wanted to retire here, but faced a stumbling block when his application was initially declined.
He's often been described as a Kiwi boy on the world stage, but that wasn't quite true until tonight.
O'Brien first came to New Zealand in 1952 as a 10-year-old boy. He lived in Tauranga initially, before moving to Hamilton once he finished school.
And tonight he was back there to take the final step on the road to becoming a fully-fledged Kiwi.
"It's the end of a long journey," said O'Brien. "A 60-year wait. It's well worth it."
The concept for the hugely-popular Rocky Horror Picture Show originally came to O'Brien while he was cutting hair in Hamilton, right next to the now-demolished Embassy Theatre.
In 2004 a statue of his character 'Riff Raff' was erected where the theatre once stood.
"If they'd lowered the statue in by crane and I was standing there cutting hair, it would've killed me," says O'Brien.
"It was exactly where I stood cutting hair."
O'Brien decided to move back to the UK in the 1960s, but became a New Zealand resident in 2010.
His application to become a citizen was initially declined because he was considered too old. However public outcry resulted in a special waiver for the entertainer.
"I did feel like I was a special case because I was claimed by New Zealand on several occasions. When Rocky for example became a success in London, the papers here said, Kiwi boy makes it in London', or Europe, and all the rest of it."
Now that Kiwi boy can have an official homecoming.
"Doesn't get any better than that," says O'Brien.
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