How New Zealand Tourism saw stars rather than the purpose behind the Michelin Guide
The Government paid $6.3 million to bring the world's most famous restaurant guide to New Zealand, then confined its inspectors to the four cities least in need of the introduction.
Grant McLachlan
Jul 45 min read
Are the Greens dumbing down conservation?
From Vienna’s first menagerie to Fiordland’s stoat-plagued islands, conservation has always demanded hard, unsentimental choices. Green politics is increasingly unwilling to make them.
Grant McLachlan
Jul 212 min read
Is New Zealand really the most beautiful country in the world?
We sell the world a postcard and then punish anyone who turns it over. The published record — and our own talent — tells a harder story.
Grant McLachlan - Column
Jun 74 min read
Going out — but staying home
New Zealanders eat out as often as Melbournians and drink as much. So why are the cinemas, stadiums, concerts and racecourses emptying out? The answer is not just money. It is time, fuel, congestion and exhaustion.
Grant McLachlan
Apr 2721 min read
The naming rights fire sale
New Zealand taxpayers and ratepayers have wasted more than a billion dollars building three stadiums — and handed the corporate branding rights away for what amounts to small change. There were better options - demonstrated in Melbourne and Los Angeles - but nobody in this country took notice.
Grant McLachlan
Apr 2537 min read
The rot in New Zealand sport hosting
This is the story of an attitude problem masquerading as an economics problem.
Grant McLachlan
Apr 2416 min read
When good intentions paved the road to gridlock: New Zealand’s cycleway saga
I used to cycle across town to school without a second thought about safety. The roads were shared space, drivers watched out for cyclists, and common sense prevailed. That was before cycling became an industry.
Grant McLachlan
Dec 3, 20254 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
Rail a saga of missed opportunities
To view the original article, please click here. To view a zoomed version of this image, please right click on it and download it as a...
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Jan 2, 20183 min read
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 that many facilities such as speed-skating rinks, luge tracks and ski-jumping towers are prefabricated, making it easy to dismantle and re-use them after an Olympics. As the first snow of the season dusts Canterbury skifields, GRANT McLACHLAN says the time is ripe for the South Island to dream big and host a Winter Olympics. OPINION: When a
Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column
May 18, 20164 min read
For and against: Waterfront stadium
Original article can be found here. A waterfront stadium could synergise Central Auckland, creating an entertainment hub that would complement neighbouring arenas, theatres, museums, conference venues, accommodation and tourism districts. If integrated with infrastructure, it could solve a backlog of problems. The favoured location for the stadium is Bledisloe Wharf - the same wharf Ports of Auckland wish to extend. Across the road from Britomart, it is at a major choke point
Grant McLachlan - New Zealand Herald - Column
Mar 18, 20163 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
Are we selling ourselves short?
To view the column, please click here.
HUMAN NATURE: Grant McLachlan - Stuff - Column
May 4, 20101 min read
