The sale of Mighty River Power will be delayed, the Government announced today. Prime Minister John Key's announced after a cabinet meeting today that his Government would delay the sale until issues of Maori water rights could be better clarified.

Ministers will be briefed on whether they can proceed with the planned part-sale of Mighty River Power.

The many critics of National's troubled privatisation programme may be more than a little premature in celebrating a possible delay in the first share float.