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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.

Recent Pro-bono

Sparrow

Fix Hill Street Now

Featured Pro-bono

Media Coverage

Grant McLachlan

Aug 31, 2022
1 min

PRO BONO

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.

Matakana War Memorial Heritage Application

Grant McLachlan

Sep 23, 2021
2 min

PRO BONO

Matakana War Memorial Heritage Application

Researching and preparing the heritage application for the Matakana War Memorial unsurfaced some disturbing agendas.

Napier to Taupō road a sign of the country going backwards

Grant McLachlan - Hawke's Bay Today - Column

May 2, 2021
4 min

Hawke's Bay Today

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.

Warkworth can’t handle the truth about proposed toll road

Grant McLachlan - Column

Oct 20, 2020
3 min

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.

Dopey economic theory causing social decline

Grant McLachlan - Column

Oct 14, 2020
4 min

PERSONA NON GRATA

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.

Jackson exposes property industry cynicism

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Jun 1, 2019
4 min

New Zealand Herald

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...

Lower rural speed limits often worsen congestion

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Oct 12, 2018
3 min

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, 2018
3 min

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....

Grant McLachlan - Gisborne Herald - Column

Oct 27, 2017
3 min

Gisborne Herald

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...

Phil Goff painting himself into corner over North Rodney

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Oct 25, 2017
3 min

New Zealand Herald

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...

Seven Sharp

Oct 5, 2017
1 min

TVNZ

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...

Protected trees are falling to council incompetence

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Oct 4, 2017
3 min

New Zealand Herald

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...

FACT CHECK: Was the Boathouse Bay decision predetermined?

Grant McLachlan

Sep 30, 2017
5 min

Feature

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...

FACT CHECK: Did Didsbury bury his complicity in Boathouse Bay?

Grant McLachlan

Sep 27, 2017
10 min

Feature

FACT CHECK: Did Didsbury bury his complicity in Boathouse Bay?

If you view this year’s 1 March issue of Mahurangi Matters, one thing stands out. Can you spot it?

Snell's Beach historic pine exposes law's weak protection

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Sep 4, 2017
3 min

New Zealand Herald

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...

Checkpoint - Radio New Zealand

Jul 26, 2017
1 min

Radio New Zealand

Little town wants a big roundabout

Grant is involved with the Fix Hill Street Now action group to fix New Zealand's worst intersection. He features in this episode of Radio...

Gutsful – Episode 4 – NZ's Worst Intersection

TVNZ, Greenstone TV

Jun 8, 2017
1 min

TVNZ

Gutsful – Episode 4 – NZ'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 episode of...

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Sep 4, 2016
3 min

New Zealand Herald

Worst highway junction just got worse

To view the original article, please click here. The Transport Agency hasn't factored into calculations how dangerous the Warkworth...

Amelia Wade - New Zealand Herald

May 19, 2016
2 min

New Zealand Herald

Traffic-jam ordeal 'solved'

You can find the original article here. Frustrated former planner reckons replacing lights with 2 roundabouts will fix traffic nightmare....

Christchurch-Queenstown Winter Olympics could fix a lot of problems

Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column

May 18, 2016
4 min

Stuff

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...

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

May 4, 2016
3 min

New Zealand Herald

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...

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Mar 17, 2016
3 min

New Zealand Herald

For and against: Waterfront stadium

Original article can be found here. A waterfront stadium could synergise Central Auckland, creating an entertainment hub that would...

Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column

Nov 3, 2015
3 min

Column

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...

Is it time to tunnel across the Cook Strait?

Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column

Jul 23, 2014
3 min

Stuff

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...

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Featured Posts

Eco-terrorism Snells Beach style

Napier to Taupō road a sign of the country going backwards

Astroturfs: Act Three of 'Dirty Politics'

Our social security system isn't working

State agencies should know the limits of their power to spy

Council officials make mockery of Unitary Plan

Rail a saga of missed opportunities

Phil Goff painting himself into corner over North Rodney

Seven Sharp – Could this be New Zealand's worst intersection?

Helping form new govt untried strategy for Peters

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