Mark the Week: We are in deep, deep trouble with the economy

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. 

 

Donald Trump: 8/10 

Yes, there's some madness and puffery and stuff you know will never happen, but he has a lot of energy and “buy in”. This will be a dramatic and, I think on balance, successful four years. 

 

Our economy: 2/10 

While we distract ourselves with frippery over Mexican barbs and asset sales that aren't happening, listen to the Reserve Bank or HSBC or any financial commentator of note. We are in deep, deep trouble, with no growth and growing debt. It never ends well. 

 

Charter schools: 7/10 

One of the good news stories of the week. Not only did more schools apply than they had money for, but more pupils applied to those schools than they had desks for. 

 

Jobs: 6/10 

Another good news story. We grew jobs at the end of last year, not by much, but we didn’t go backwards. 

 

Speed limits: 6/10 

This week is a start but really, does it have to be this hard and slow for the rest? 

 

Sail GP: 7/10 

One of the highlights of the holidays. That thing is slick, it's well run, and it makes New Zealand look great. Coutts is awesome. 

 

Winston Peters: 4/10 

The race thing I thought he had moved on from. He looks better than that these days, until he doesn’t. 

  

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