RMA | klaut

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

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.

Column

Grant McLachlan

Feb 136 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.

Column

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?

Column

Grant McLachlan

Feb 7, 20254 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.

PERSONA NON GRATA

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...

New Zealand Herald

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

New Zealand Herald

Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column

Oct 12, 20183 min read