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Publishing • Production • Communications

Showreel

Books

Unleashed

Sex, rackets & vigilantes in

New Zealand's most corrupted community.

He wrote about vigilantes during the Covid lockdowns.

What could possibly go wrong?

How a clique used their council and police connections to try to silence an investigative writer through a series of stitch ups. This Kafkaesque farce delves into a community often at the centre of many New Zealand corruption scandals.

Matakana War Memorial heritage application

Fix Hill Street Now: TVNZ Gutsful episode

Fix Hill Street Now: Visit the campaign website

Matakana War Memorial heritage application

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Welcome to Klaut.

Klaut is the publishing, production, and communications company of Grant McLachlan – a New Zealand-based writer. Grant is a prolific investigative writer of fiction and non-fiction for newspapers, books, and screen.

A former hearings commissioner, barrister, and solicitor, Grant has worked in the public and private sectors, ranging from a Parliamentary researcher and campaign director to a planner and infrastructure specialist. His columns in New Zealand newspapers and his pro-bono work has assisted many people involved in disputes with central and local government authorities.

On this site you will find links to his current and past work. There are several projects in development so please watch this space.

Sparrow

A Chronicle of Defiance

An epic account of The Sparrows

- Battle of Britain gunners who defended Timor as part of Sparrow Force in 1942.

It is the story of Charlie McLachlan's war: a triumph of stubborn Scottish defiance and laconic Aussie genius over the relentless violence of man and nature. Charlie survives and bears witness to some of the landmark days of World War II.

Media Coverage

No fault and no responsibility

We have a no fault system for personal injury and, in the light of the Havelock North water contamination epidemic,has ACC made us gormless?

Hawke's Bay Today

Grant McLachlan - Hawke's Bay Today - Column

Aug 31, 20163 min read

Christchurch-Queenstown Winter Olympics could fix a lot of problems

The original article can be found here. A Russian speed skating team at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Grant McLachlan argues that many facilities such as speed-skating rinks, luge tracks and ski-jumping towers are prefabricated, making it easy to dismantle and re-use them after an Olympics. As the first snow of the season dusts Canterbury skifields, GRANT McLACHLAN says the time is ripe for the South Island to dream big and host a Winter Olympics. OPINION: When a

Stuff

Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column

May 18, 20164 min read

Planners blinded by big picture

Warkworth’s Hill St intersection is the poster child for bureaucratic incompetence. Please click here to visit the published column. If...

New Zealand Herald

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

May 4, 20163 min read

For and against: Waterfront stadium

Original article can be found here. A waterfront stadium could synergise Central Auckland, creating an entertainment hub that would complement neighbouring arenas, theatres, museums, conference venues, accommodation and tourism districts. If integrated with infrastructure, it could solve a backlog of problems. The favoured location for the stadium is Bledisloe Wharf - the same wharf Ports of Auckland wish to extend. Across the road from Britomart, it is at a major choke point

New Zealand Herald

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Mar 18, 20163 min read

Contrived problems are the problem

You can’t please everyone. When the Rodney Local Board tried to please a vocal minority they annoyed the apathetic majority by making...

Column

Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column

Nov 3, 20153 min read

Summer break may cure us of flag fatigue

Original article can be found here. The flag referendum should be delayed until after the summer, writes Grant McLachlan. I empathise...

Otago Daily Times

Grant McLachlan

Sep 23, 20153 min read

The flag process is not New Zealand Idol

Original article can be found here. New Zealand Idol should never have been used as a template for the Flag Consideration Panel. Documents released to me under the Official Information Act demonstrate that the methods applied to reach decisions were more in line with a talent contest rather than a function of responsible government. The process should not be about celebrity judges, celebrity appearances, celebrity designers, or social media voting. We were told that the

New Zealand Herald

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Sep 17, 20154 min read

Taking a leaf from Canada's flag debate

Original article here Will we get a political doodle for a flag, a celebrity-driven choice, or a timeless icon, asks Grant McLachlan. New Zealand appears to be repeating what happened in Canada 50 years ago when Canada chose a new flag. But I doubt we will end up with a new national icon. In Canada during 1964, initial designs proposed by a "special flag committee" were rejected. Canadians had submitted 3541 designs. Of those, 2136 contained the maple leaf (their silver

New Zealand Herald

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Aug 13, 20154 min read

NZ's national colour is black

Original article can be found here. The discussion over whether New Zealand should change its flag should be a time to discuss whether we...

New Zealand Herald

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Jul 7, 20154 min read

Is it time to tunnel across the Cook Strait?

Original article can be found here. Considering the state of our inter-island fleet, the cancellations of air and sea travel due to weather and the future demands on utilities, it is time that we examine the feasibility of a fixed link between our two main islands. Bridges and tunnel technology have improved in both engineering capability and affordability. More recently, this country has invested in megaprojects that have delivered on their goals. "But what about the cos

Stuff

Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column

Jul 24, 20143 min read