The former Parnell-based lawyer combines country living in Central Otago with city work, including a directorship at H&J Smith.
It is, as she says, a merger of her past life and farming life into a ‘‘beautiful space''- and she could not be happier.
Ms McLachlan, who grew up in Hamilton, previously led very much an urban lifestyle, living in cities like Auckland, Wellington and London.
Then she jokes she was ‘‘imported'' by a farmer from Waipahi, and moved from Parnell to the ‘‘middle of nowhere''.
That farmer was Graham Clarke, who had been farming near the South Otago township since 1983. With a passion for growing nutritious food for people, Mr Clarke had converted Marama Farm to organic farming.
After several years of commuting south, Ms McLachlan moved to Waipahi five years ago. She discovered, a little to her surprise, she was very happy living in the country.
‘‘Luckily, I found Graham. He has taught me so much about what matters in life. I've learned a huge amount about what matters to me. We're just right together,'' she said.
Despite her prior lack of knowledge of anything rural, she donned her gumboots and got acquainted with life on the farm. The farm was later sold and the couple moved to a small property at Bendigo Reach, near Tarras, in August last year.
Because she had ‘‘done this other life'' with Mr Clarke, it had suddenly opened up a whole lot of new opportunities for her, using her professional skills.
From her new home, Ms McLachlan continues to have ‘‘the best of both worlds'' without having to entirely forego her corporate life.
For about three years she has been an independent director on the board of H&J Smith, a role she described as an ‘‘absolute pleasure and privilege''.
It has been a big year for H&J Smith, as the family-owned business bought the historic Arthur Barnett department store in Dunedin, and opened a Mitre 10 Mega store at Frankton.
Ms McLachlan described it as ‘‘the best appointment any woman could have''.
‘‘You get to experience the store like a customer does, but also contribute to the future of a family business. We all know there's a need to continue to evolve to meet the needs of the customer in a way that is refreshing for them,'' she said.
The Dunedin store is now branded as H&J Smith.
‘‘As a group, we talk about being a family of businesses and a family in business. I'm not part of the family but I feel privileged to work with the family to help them.''
Ms McLachlan, who spent nearly four years on the Earthquake Commission, has also been working with Canterbury law firm Tavendale and Partners, helping with some strategy work.
Next year, she will take a role, similar to acting general manager, to help execute some ‘‘really exciting'' plans the firm has, spending alternate weeks living in Christchurch.
The firm focused on agribusiness and commercial clients, which were her own interests. Ms McLachlan is also on the advisory team for Wanaka-based business Insiteful and has been heavily involved with the Institute of Directors.
That included the governance development programme, and developing a Rural Governance Essentials course this year to support rural businesses in achieving good governance.
The course, which was rolled out throughout the country and will be held again next year, was designed to give insight into the benefits a board could bring, and the fundamental responsibilities of a board and its directors.
It had gone very well and had enforced that people involved in rural businesses were wanting to improve their governance to achieve better results.
Many rural businesses were ‘‘stretched'' at the moment, particularly owner-operators who found it hard to find the time to think about their direction and at a strategic level. The first one will be in New Plymouth and another will be held in Invercargill.
She and Mr Clarke were also studying to be health coaches and they were starting a new business next year providing help to people, whether that was health, business, governance or farming.
Ms McLachlan wanted to help people throughout their lives, especially professional women who were struggling to juggle everything.
They were often completely overwhelmed and did not look after themselves. Having had experience as a solo parent, while also a partner in a law firm, meant she knew what that felt like.
While she had a busy lifestyle herself these days, Ms McLachlan planned well. She also took care of herself, although she was still working on getting more exercise. ‘‘We apply a lot of health coaching principles to our own lives.''
While also enjoying his study, Mr Clarke was helping care for a young man with a brain injury. He changed his diet and introduced the concept of regular exercise. ‘‘He's ambitious for social change,'' Ms McLachlan said.
Tarras was a ‘‘lovely little community'' and, while it might seem remote to some people, it was a fairly central location for her regular travelling stints.
‘‘It's always bliss getting off the plane in Queenstown. Every day I'm home, I thank my lucky stars and pinch myself.''
The couple have been establishing a garden, including planting an orchard, a vegetable garden and 700 lavender plants.
Two cows and four calves graze on the 3.8ha property, surrounded by irrigation which was fascinating to observe, she said.
She was keen for a board appointment in the region, saying she had her ‘‘Southland thing'', with the H&J Smith directorship, and she would like to also help an Otago business.
