Unleashed

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Sparrow

Fix Hill Street Now

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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.

Find out more...

Matakana War Memorial heritage application

Fix Hill Street Now: TVNZ Gutsful episode

Black & Silver Flag campaign

Matakana War Memorial heritage application

1/5

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.

Media Coverage

Auckland Council: Too big to care, too complex to control.

Grant McLachlan

Oct 34 min read

Unleashed

Auckland Council: Too big to care, too complex to control.

Auckland Council has grown so vast that watchdogs lack the resources to keep up, fostering a culture that often rewards dubious conduct.

Warkworth's celebrity crooked cop culture

Grant McLachlan

Sep 2516 min read

Research

Warkworth's celebrity crooked cop culture

When I filmed the mother of a cop break my nose, several cops told me to not share the footage with Warkworth Police.

Police 'aghast' unsupervised volunteers opened community station to public

1News

Sep 203 min read

TVNZ

Police 'aghast' unsupervised volunteers opened community station to public

Police were "aghast" to find volunteers at a community police centre north of Auckland opened the station to the public without supervision.

New book uncovers corruption at every layer of a community.

Grant McLachlan

Jul 282 min read

Unleashed

New book uncovers corruption at every layer of a community.

Unleashed is investigative writer Grant McLachlan’s Kafkaesque account of a community often at the centre of many NZ corruption scandals.

How a right wing racket unleashed on me.

Grant McLachlan

Jul 284 min read

Unleashed

How a right wing racket unleashed on me.

When RNZ’s Ruth Hill contacted me about my September 2020 astroturfing article, a year later I would be facing prison time.

Photo evidence thwarts farcical prosecution.

Grant McLachlan

Feb 95 min read

Press Release

Photo evidence thwarts farcical prosecution.

"If Mr McLachlan hadn't taken those four photos, would anyone even consider his version of events?" - Tudor Clee, R v McLachlan

The 'unknowns' that will decide this election

Grant McLachlan

Sep 23, 20233 min read

Column

The 'unknowns' that will decide this election

Many politicians have said, “The only poll that matters is election day.” What polls don’t consider could decide this election.

Grant McLachlan

Sep 17, 202123 min read

Feature

Eco-terrorism Snells Beach style

It started as a group who appeared to be well-meaning bird photographers. When they failed to get recognition and legitimacy from...

Grant McLachlan - Column

May 4, 20218 min read

PERSONA NON GRATA

Small minds in small communities

I smelt a rat at the Snells Beach Residents and Ratepayers Association AGM. So I set a trap.

Ex-ACT staffer Grant McLachlan says party created fake grassroots groups

Ruth Hill - Radio New Zealand

Apr 6, 20216 min read

TVNZ

Ex-ACT staffer Grant McLachlan says party created fake grassroots groups

Political pundits and media experts are warning that artificial grassroots organisations are being used to manipulate public opinion.

Grant McLachlan

Nov 29, 20201 min read

PRO BONO

NAG exposes naked truth on Rodney roads

I was introduced to Maurie Purdy whilst having a beer with mates at our local. He discovered my background and asked for some input for a...

Warkworth can’t handle the truth about proposed toll road

Grant McLachlan - Column

Oct 20, 20203 min read

PERSONA NON GRATA

Warkworth can’t handle the truth about proposed toll road

Once again, the Herald ignores a topic important to many of their subscribers.

Beware of List MPs hiding behind leaders

Grant McLachlan - Column

Oct 16, 20204 min read

PERSONA NON GRATA

Beware of List MPs hiding behind leaders

The Act Party list was announced on Sunday 28 June 2020. The most notable change to the list was the demotion of Deputy Leader Beth...

Kiwis are more corrupted than they think

Grant McLachlan

Oct 2, 20205 min read

Column

Kiwis are more corrupted than they think

New Zealanders place more trust in their politicians and journalists than they should.

Why we should have zero tolerance for Act

Grant McLachlan - Column

Sep 29, 20204 min read

PERSONA NON GRATA

Why we should have zero tolerance for Act

Sex, drugs, fraud and bullying. What the Act Party doesn't want you to know this election.

Astroturfs: Act Three of 'Dirty Politics'

Grant McLachlan

Sep 28, 202013 min read

Feature

Astroturfs: Act Three of 'Dirty Politics'

The history of astroturfs in New Zealand is closely associated to the history of the Act Party.

Grant McLachlan - Column

Jul 14, 20203 min read

PERSONA NON GRATA

Taxpayer Union just a right-wing puppet

When pushing for more transparency and less waste in government, the NZ Taxpayers’ Union should be more up front who they're advocating for.

Nuisance bylaws on dogs are the real nuisance

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Nov 27, 20183 min read

New Zealand Herald

Nuisance bylaws on dogs are the real nuisance

(Click here to view the published article.) Auckland Council officials are yet to exceed my lowering expectations of them. Their proposed...

Lower rural speed limits often worsen congestion

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Oct 12, 20183 min read

New Zealand Herald

Lower rural speed limits often worsen congestion

To view the original article, please click here. Be careful what you wish for when suggesting the lowering of speed limits on rural...

Council officials make mockery of Unitary Plan

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Mar 5, 20183 min read

New Zealand Herald

Council officials make mockery of Unitary Plan

To visit the original article, please click here. There is little point having an Auckland Unitary Plan if council planners ignore it....

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