Why aren't we there yet? The road New Zealand already replaced — and the one it should replace next.
The Manawatū Gorge closed without warning. Nine years and $824M later, we had a new road. The Remutaka is showing the same signs. Do we act now — or wait for the hill to make the decision for us?
Grant McLachlan
16 hours ago3 min read
Manufacturing the poor: How neoliberalism built the welfare state it loves to hate
How neoliberal governments manufactured the social crises they campaign against — and why beneficiary bashing is the oldest con in New Zealand politics.
Grant McLachlan
5 days ago18 min read
When noise drowns out democracy: The predictable playbook of environmental campaigns
In environmental battles, the winner isn't determined by facts—it's determined by who controls the noise. Create enough controversy, enough division, enough exhaustion, and people simply tune out. By the time Sustainable Tarras' legitimate questions get answers, no one's listening anymore. It's a strategy I've seen deployed countless times. And it always works.
Grant McLachlan
Feb 136 min read
The Cook Strait Tunnel: Has Elon Musk made it feasible?
The question shouldn't be “How much will it cost?”
The question should be “At what cost does this become feasible?”
Grant McLachlan
Feb 29 min read
The roads that never were: Ten New Zealand infrastructure dreams that died on the drawing board
New Zealand’s transport network tells a story not just of what was built, but of what could have been.
Grant McLachlan
Dec 1, 202519 min read
Investigative journalism master class eviscerating corrupt council
In an era when media organisations frantically downsize, replacing substance with clickbait and advertorial content, a remarkable counter-narrative is unfolding in Queenstown.
Grant McLachlan
Apr 16, 20256 min read
Has Queenstown exceeded capacity?
Queenstown risks destroying the very reason people visit the destination. With the sewerage plant overflowing, can it grow any further?
Grant McLachlan
Feb 7, 20254 min read
Is Queenstown's "Road to Nowhere" a waste of money?
The Queenstown upgrade of Melbourne & Henry Streets has been heralded as a bypass of Queenstown's CBD. Was the $128m price tag worth it?
Grant McLachlan
Feb 5, 20251 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
Warkworth Golf Club aerial graphics
I was asked by the Warkworth Golf Club to aerial map their course. I discovered that my drone could do a lot more than that.
Grant McLachlan
Sep 1, 20221 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
Napier to Taupō road a sign of the country going backwards
The Napier to Taupo Road road represented strides in New Zealand's progress. Now, it demonstrates that the country is moving backwards.
Grant McLachlan - Hawke's Bay Today - Column
May 3, 20214 min read
Warkworth can’t handle the truth about proposed toll road
Once again, the Herald ignores a topic important to many of their subscribers.
Grant McLachlan - Column
Oct 20, 20203 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
Jackson exposes property industry cynicism
To view online published article, please click here. The stoush between the Wellington mayor and a movie industrialist encapsulates what...
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Jun 1, 20194 min read
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 roads. Often it results in unintended consequences. In 2007, the then-named Transit New Zealand (now NZ Transport Agency) published a planning policy manual setting out how it wished to integrate land use around its national roading network. The manual tried to avoid adjacent activities affecting the efficient flow of traffic. The quantity, qu
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Oct 12, 20183 min read
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....
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Mar 6, 20183 min read
Gisborne needn't be end of the line
To view the published column, please visit this link. The original column is shown below. The section of the Gisborne-Wairoa railway...
Grant McLachlan - Gisborne Herald - Column
Oct 28, 20173 min read
Phil Goff painting himself into corner over North Rodney
To view the original article, please click here. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff's position against a North Rodney referendum to break away from...
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Oct 26, 20173 min read
Seven Sharp – Could this be New Zealand's worst intersection?
Grant is involved with the Fix Hill Street Now action group to fix New Zealand's worst intersection. He features in this item from TVNZ's...
Seven Sharp
Oct 5, 20171 min read
