Richard O'Brien is applying directly to the New Zealand Immigration minister for permanent residency.
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09 June 2010
Rocky Horror writer applies to New Zealand Immigration for special consideration
The writer of The Rocky Horror Show, Richard O'Brien, has received support for his application for New Zealand permanent residency from his old home town, Hamilton.
His New Zealand immigration adviser, Dion Smart, said O'Brien did not fit the criteria for permanent residency or citizenship because of his age. Rather than making an application that would be rejected, and then go through an appeal process, O’Brien was instead directly applying to the minister on the basis that New Zealanders had embraced him as a cultural icon. The application was filed yesterday.
The mayor of Hamilton, Bob Simcock, has written a letter in support of the British-born actor and writer.
Mr Simcock said that O'Brien's contribution to the city of Hamilton, where a statue has been erected in his honour, and to New Zealand justified his being given residency.
O'Brien lived in Hamilton, Tauranga and Putaruru in his teens and early 20s before emigrating to Britain in the 1960s.
A Facebook page calling for O'Brien to be allowed to retire in New Zealand has also been created in support for his application.
The New Zealand Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their New Zealand Visa applications to the New Zealand High Commission.
