IT'S ASTOUNDING: Richard O'Brien has just found out that he has been given citizenship to New Zealand and is putting on a show at Founders Theatre.

We have claimed him as our famous son for over 35 years but Richard O'Brien is finally about to become a New Zealand citizen.

And he's planning a one-off Hamilton show to celebrate.

The Rocky Horror Show creator, who has the Riff Raff statue in Hamilton's CBD erected in his honour, received residency in August last year.

He was originally told he was too old to be considered for citizenship but yesterday announced that the Government had made an exception, and on December 14 at a ceremony in Hamilton, he will officially be registered a New Zealand citizen

"Now I belong," he said. "I've been claimed for many years. It really is nice to belong."

Mr O'Brien, 69, met the Waikato Times yesterday and said he was optimistic – and with good reason.

"I love it," he said. "I feel like I'm home. Being home is in New Zealand. That's home. I recognise the buildings, I feel safe here – it's what you know."

He joked that his first action as an official citizen would be to demand crunchy bacon and thicker toilet paper.

And like any true artist he strayed from the topic constantly, touching on everything from corporate tax fraud to hanging out in Mick Jagger's London apartment in the 1960s.

Mr O'Brien also announced his one-off concert at Hamilton's Founders Theatre on March 17 next year.

The show will serve as his 70th birthday party, a celebration of his citizenship and a fundraiser for Starship Foundation.

He will perform a selection of original material, including favourites from Rocky Horror.