NZX's best performing shares of 2014 (+graphic)

There have been some stellar performers on the New Zealand sharemarket this year as it has surged ahead breaking new records.

In this snapshot, from the NZX 50, to October 17, OceanaGold leads the pack with Meridian Energy close behind.

Meridian and the other power stocks have obviously benefited from a post-election bump as the threat of a change of Government and price controls disappeared.

Tomorrow we'll look at the other side of the ledger, with the worst performing NZ shares on the NZX.

OceanaGold, which owns New Zealand's largest goldmine Macraes, is a more complex story. Mining stocks are often volatile and its were one of the worst performers on the NZX last year. They've surged back with stronger earnings, cost savings, good hedging and good cashflow.

While gold prices are still subdued and returns low they have been offset by copper production at its Philippine mine at Didipio.

Meanwhile its Didipio goldmine is one of the lowest cost gold producers in the world.

Other strong stocks on the list include F&P Healthcare - always a good performer but benefiting from increasing NZ dollar returns as the exchange rate with the US drops.

Spark (formerly) Telecom seems to have convinced investors with its more marketing focused reinvention.

Others, such as Mainfreight (again, always a well-run company), tend to be good barometers of a strong domestic economy.

- Liam Dann