The Local Government Commission will announce on Tuesday whether five councils in Hawke's Bay should be merged into one.
The lobby group applied in February for the Hastings, Napier, Central Hawke's Bay and Wairoa District Vouncils to be merged.
Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule supports amalgamation but the mayors of Napier, Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay oppose it.
If the decision is in favour of changing the status quo, the commission will hold hearings next year with a final proposal released in July.
The commission issued a decision earlier this month in favour of merging four councils in Northland.
