Independent research house Morningstar has come out in favour of the upcoming Meridian Energy float, saying it is likely to appeal to long-term investors seeking yield.

After having its "for sale" sign removed when it almost collapsed this year, state-owned coalminer Solid Energy will be partially privatised in a restructuring deal.

Labour's new leader, David Cunliffe, is having something of a dream run, writes Brian Rudman. For nearly a month, the party's leadership roadshow dominated the political news headlines.

The Government has loaned stricken state owned coal miner Solid Energy $100 million as part of a restructuring package announced this morning.

John Key says the result of next month's referendum on asset sales will be interesting - but won't halt his partial sale of power companies and Air NZ.

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed the Citizens Initiated Referendum over asset sales will take place in late November and early December this year.

The Government says there has been strong early demand for its Meridian share offer, which opens today.

The Government has driven a harder bargain in setting the fees for selling up to 49 per cent of Meridian Energy.

The Shareholders Association has welcomed a move by the stock exchange to help fund independent research on the Meridian Energy sharemarket float.

The Government's decision to move earlier than signalled on the Meridian Energy float shows there is positive interest in the float but pricing will remain key

The Government has today announced a timeline for the Meridian float, in which it hopes to raise around $2.3 billion.

Treasury advised the Government not to pay the owners of the Tiwai Point smelter to keep the business running, documents released this afternoon show.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that the School Journal would continue despite the decision to close the state-owned enterprise that produced it.

If history is any guide, the upcoming referendum on the sale of state owned assets will achieve a huge vote in favour of no more sale.

Prime Minister John Key says the asset sales referendum will be an "utter waste of money" and the sales process could be completed before it is held.

Investors in soon-to-be-floated Meridian Energy could receive a net dividend yield of up to 6.8 per cent, based on analyst valuations.

Five months after the first share float of Mighty River Power a referendum on asset sales is to go ahead - news accidentally tweeted by the Greens co-leader.

For a man who claims to have become an accountant out of sheer laziness, Paul Chambers has a lot on his plate.

No sooner had Mark Binns taken over as chief executive of Meridian Energy in January last year, than he was confronted with the lowest inflows into its hydro lakes in more than 80 years.