New Zealand financial markets are expected to firm when they open today after the National Party secured the first ever outright win.

Michelle Dickinson says the field of nanotechnology is going to experience huge growth in the coming years, and will affect most areas of our lives.

A couple charged with defrauding Mighty River Power of $2 million bought a $1.4 million Auckland property the month before the energy company started an investigation.

NZX-listed Mighty River Power has been caught up in an alleged $2 million employee husband-and-wife fraud.

Power bills have been rising relentlessly. The two sides of politics are divided on house best to rein that in - competition or regulation.

Vector has won a High Court fight with Inland Revenue and says is now entitled to a $7.6 million tax refund.

Bill Bennett talks to McConnell Dowell CEO about the firm's major undertakings.

Meridian Energy has fattened its dividend and is hinting of a possible return of capital next year after beating prospectus forecasts in its first annual result.

Vector is in a High Court dispute with Inland Revenue about whether a $53m payment the electricity company received is taxable.

The stars have aligned for Contact Energy - producing an increase in profit to $234m and a second dividend increase for shareholders in two years.

Oil industry executives were treated to $7200 on wine tasting alone during a taxpayer-funded junket to New Zealand, the Green Party says.

Auckland Airport hopes a new energy conservation programme launched with tenants will be worth $2 million a year in savings.

Kathmandu says a cold snap last month in Australia and New Zealand helped generate more sales than anticipated.

Ireland finally struck offshore oil, or so it seemed in 2012. But two years on, the company behind the find still hasn't found a partner to develop the oil field.

Energy Minister Simon Bridges is defending a $240,000 bill for taxpayers to wine and dine 11 oil executives during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Tag Oil of Canada has been awarded five mineral exploration permits to hunt for platinum in the South Island.

A new way of monitoring electricity prices - which calculates what people are actually paying for their power - shows consumers faced a 2.3 per cent hike in the past year.

Thousands of Kiwi households have complained about their electricity provider in the last year, with almost half of complaints being about billing issues.