The fate of the Rena wreck will be determined today.

It's been four and a half years since the disaster and today's decision has been highly anticipated.

The owners want to leave the wreck where it currently sits on the Astrolabe Reef, but local iwi want it gone.

A panel of commissioners heard 151 submissions on the Resource Consent application over a 20 day hearing in October last year.

A decision was supposed to be released in December, but that was delayed until today.

It's been labelled as one of the worst environmental disasters in the country, and today we'll find out what'll happen to the Rena wreck.

Some say the the Rena wreck has been forgotten locally, but 151 submissions says otherwise.

In a few hours those for and against leaving the wreck where it currently sits will get the answers they've been waiting some time for.

At two o'clock we'll know, if the ship's owner will be able to leave the wreck behind, how much of what's left will have to be cleaned up, and what the ongoing effect on the environment will be.