'Ruling the Roost': How a council staffer created her own private fiefdom.
Imagine a job where you could live the life of a lord where you rule by decree and can act with impunity. Welcome to the life of Megan Young.
Grant McLachlan - Column
May 3121 min read
Bird-brained council officials are dividing communities
Snells Beach encapsulates how a poor decision by elected officials spirals into overreach by unelected officials, wasting time and money.
Grant McLachlan - Column
Feb 13 min read
Submission to Auckland Council in response to proposals for the northern end of Snells Beach
Submissions to the Rodney Local Board of Auckland Council on the Proposals of Megan Young and dog access rules for Snells Beach.
Grant McLachlan
Jan 2917 min read
The Politics of Stupid
Oscar Wilde said: "Life imitates art far more than art imitates life." In Snells Beach, life imitates the films Zoolander and Hot Fuzz.
Grant McLachlan - Column
Jan 287 min read
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.
Grant McLachlan
Oct 3, 20244 min read
The importance of heritage
The Auckland Heritage Festival 2022 between 1-16 October, theme is ‘Topography, Taonga and Trailblazers.’
Grant McLachlan
Sep 27, 20222 min read
Matakana War Memorial Heritage Application
Researching and preparing the heritage application for the Matakana War Memorial unsurfaced some disturbing agendas.
Grant McLachlan
Sep 23, 20212 min read
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
Sep 17, 202123 min read
Dopey economic theory causing social decline
The Herald headline read "Auckland Council golf courses a $2b-plus development bonanza." Here is the column challenging it.
Grant McLachlan - Column
Oct 14, 20204 min read
War memorial gets official listing as historic place
Adrienne Miller with military historian Grant McLachlan, who wrote the 400-page submission for the Matakana War Memorial to Heritage New...
Sallly Marden - Mahurangi Matters
Sep 13, 20202 min read
Matakana Landmark First to Turn 100
Matakana’s first public art installation – the Matakana War Memorial – will be celebrating its centenary in 2020.
Grant McLachlan
Mar 27, 20203 min read
Environmental watchdog sorely needed
To view the original article, please click here. To read the above image, please right click and download the image. The estuary by...
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Dec 13, 20173 min read
Protected trees are falling to council incompetence
To view the original article, please click here. The Auckland Council is causing serious environmental damage due to decisions based on...
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Oct 4, 20173 min read
FACT CHECK: Was the Boathouse Bay decision predetermined?
The decision by Auckland Council to grant resource consent for a 33-dwelling intensive development called Boathouse Bay has shocked many...
Grant McLachlan
Sep 30, 20175 min read
Snell's Beach historic pine exposes law's weak protection
To view the original article, please click here. The Lawrie's Norfolk is now on the New Zealand Tree Register. The recent decision by the...
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Sep 4, 20173 min read
Endangered species need war
Original article can be found here. If world leaders are serious about eliminating poaching of endangered species then they need to...
Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column
Feb 12, 20142 min read
Time to put 100% into making NZ pure
TIDY UP NEEDED: If we spent as much money on cleaning up our environment then our 100 Per Cent Pure brand would hold water, rather than...
Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column
Aug 9, 20132 min read
