The New Zealand government is to sell a 20% stake in Air New Zealand, leaving it with a 53% holding.
Trading in the airline’s shares was halted today following the government’s announcement.
The 20% stake is valued at NZ$363 million (£187million).
As the government will retain a 53% stake in Air New Zealand after the sale, it will still have the power to appoint the majority of the airline’s board of directors.
The New Zealand government became a majority shareholder in Air New Zealand in 2002, when it stepped in to save the carrier from collapse.
The share sale will help the government’s target of raising NZ$5 billion to cut public debt and spend on infrastructure.
The Air New Zealand stake sale is part of a programme of asset sales by New Zealand’s government, which has so far raised NZ$3.6 billion.