A sell-off by international investors is likely to be behind the weakness in Mighty River Power's share price, say analysts.

Widespread fears of a flood of Asian investment and a Chinese farm-buying spree are misplaced - Australia is the largest overseas investor in New Zealand.

New technology allows households to track almost every detail of their electricity use.

Consumers should enjoy lower power prices with a massive upgrade to the high-voltage electricity link between the North and South Islands, the electricity industry says.

The Meridian Energy partial privatisation is so large it may have to be split in two, Prime Minister John Key says.

The 113,000 so called "mum and dad" investors who bought Mighty River shares included companies, trusts and investment institutions, Treasury has confirmed.

Not much time has passed since the Government's Budget announcement that shares in Meridian Energy would be the next to be sold.

A Canterbury researcher is investigating renewable energy options for Pacific island nations in a bid to cut reliance on expensive diesel generators.

The Green Party says that shares sold in the recent float of Mighty River Power went to only a small group of investors - and claims of widespread 'mum and dad' ownership are false.

What the assets are worth now depends on the future path of electricity prices and the effect that has on the company's cashflows, writes Brian Fallow.

Shell says its campaign to squeeze untapped gas from the Maui field is meeting expectations as it casts it net to far flung parts of New Zealand's exclusive economic zone.

Meridian Energy, New Zealand's biggest and most profitable power company, will be partially privatised later this year, Finance Minister Bill English confirmed in yesterday's Budget.

The Government will waste no time selling down Meridian Energy with Treasury officials expected to meet investment bankers on Monday.

Senior executives of newly listed, state-controlled Mighty River Power are in line for shares in lieu of cash bonuses worth $1.2 million for the year to June 30.

Research firm UBS has placed a "buy" recommendation on Mighty River Power shares and a 12 month target price of $2.82.