The Govt has revised the estimate of how much it expects to receive from its partial asset sales down to between $4.6 to $5b.

Liam Dann considers the extremely difficult diplomatic position NZ could face this century as China grows in economic strength and asserts its political muscle.

Every registered voter by now will have received postal ballot papers for the referendum on asset sales.

Investors who took up shares in newly listed Mighty River Power and Meridian will take little comfort from PwC's latest report on the electricity sector.

I'm not a fan of binding referendums, writes Brian Rudman. Like mass petitions, they're a one-sided megaphone that is no substitute for the checks and balances built into the parliamentary process.

As PM John Key said yesterday, the citizens-initiated referendum will almost certainly deliver his Government's partial asset sales policy a thumbs-down from the public.

The final stage of the Govt's partial asset sales programme, involving Genesis Energy next year, looks increasingly unlikely to proceed.

Meridian Energy's instalment receipts fell below their issue price - in early afternoon trading today.

Market players say they are surprised at the drop in Air New Zealand's share price in the wake of the Government's 20 per cent sell-down.

The Government has made $365 million from selling down its 20 per cent stake in Air New Zealand after pricing the shares at $1.65 a piece.

Qantas has launched a scathing attack on the stake that Air NZ have built in Virgin Australia. Grant Bradley looks at why it's got the Flying Roo in a such a flap.

Bill English has thrown the Opposition a curve-ball as they ready themselves for their unofficial three-week campaign to maximise the "no" vote in the referendum on partial asset sales.

Qantas has launched an attack on Air NZ's commercial strategy behind its investment in Virgin - saying it's a foreign bid to destabilise Australian aviation market.

According to the Labour Party leader, David Cunliffe, the timing of the Government's selldown of shares in Air New Zealand is arrogant.

Strong demand for the Air NZ share selldown is expected, but one broker says most will be coming from the bigger institutional investors.

Business editor Liam Dann on why the Air NZ share sale is a very different prospect from the SOE partial privatisations.

Opposition parties are warning of higher fares and even a second taxpayer bailout after the Government put another slice of Air NZ on the block.

The Government, fresh from the sale of shares in Mighty River Power and Meridian Energy, faces a harder sell when it comes to divesting a 49 per cent stake in the third and final power generator.

An angry Vital Healthcare Property Trust investor has criticised performance and investment in Australia at New Zealand's expense.

Meridian Energy's instalment receipts have continued to hold firm, helped by buying interest from Bank of New York Mellon Corp, through its London-based subsidiary, Newton Investment.

The head of New Zealand's investment regulator has hit out at the Government's energy company sharemarket floats and says they have failed to lead the way in making it easier for retail investors to access information.