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Kōrero: Waikato places

Roadside Stories: Rocky horror in Hamilton

A statue in Hamilton pays tribute to former resident Richard O’Brien, creator of the kitschy, gender-bending 1970s musical The rocky horror show. The statue depicts Riff Raff, the character played by O’Brien in the movie version, which became a cult hit. A 1986 New Zealand production of the musical famously featured former prime minister Robert Muldoon as the narrator.

Listen to a Roadside Story about the statue and the show. Roadside Stories is a series of audio guides to places around New Zealand.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

YouTube: Manatu Taonga's channel

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, Waikato places – Hamilton west of the river, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/interactive/35233/roadside-stories-rocky-horror-in-hamilton (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 5 January 2012, updated 11 June 2015.