Plans to merge Bay of Plenty's two biggest tertiary institutes is expected to decide in about a month the government says.

Tertiary Education minister Steven Joyce says public consultation for the merger between Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua, closed on Tuesday.

The proposal is to disestablish both institutions and create a new tertiary organisation aimed at providing enhanced vocational and applied tertiary education programs and opportunities for students across the wider Bay of Plenty region.

The Tertiary Education Commission will compile the submissions for the Minister's consideration and he expected it will take about a month to reach a decision.

"It's important the proposal meets the needs of students, businesses and the wider Bay of Plenty region and I look forward to reading through the views of the community alongside the detailed business case before making an informed decision," the Minister says.

The proposal has meet with opposition in Rotorua with a Facebook page Keep Waiariki Local being set up in opposition to the merge.

Cassandra Joan Marjoribanks, a past student, posted she wanted Waiariki to stay local.

'I strongly agree that it's worth saving and keeping local. It is fine the way it is it has everything a campus should have and all staff are there to help if you need it. A merge with Bay Poly is stupid as in jobs could potentially lost.”

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick also sent a letter to the minister urging him to stop the process, which was signed by Te Arawa Lakes Trust chairman Sir Toby Curtis and Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust Grahame Hall.

'If you are looking at what is needed in the future, surely lifting the availability and access for locals to learn in their own cities and towns will improve education and employment opportunities across our region,” the Rotorua mayor says.

'We are all for strengthening the delivery and options for students and any change has to be about taking the opportunity to enhance the local and regional tertiary education offerings to our community,” she adds.

'We are concerned we don't know all the details as yet, but my view is this cannot simply be about patch protection. If we are truly looking at collaboration that needs to be about a broader view and pathway through tertiary and an opportunity to look for a cohesive joined up strategy across the North Island.

'I want to make sure that all regional opportunities for tertiary collaboration or partnership have been thoroughly explored and considered.”

Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says the council had also submitted a submission, supporting the proposal.

'Our submission is in support of the merger and it's based on accessible, affordable, quality education outcomes for the Bay of Plenty… I've personally met with people from both institutions to make sure that I am clear of what's actually going on and the risks and benefits.

'I am certain that in the short, medium and long term this is a good proposal for educational outcomes for the Bay of Plenty.”

Stuart says residents of Tauranga he had spoken to were also in support of the merge.

'People I've spoken to understand that [the merger] will lift both institutions. Because what's actually happening is that both institutions are being disestablished. So it's not a takeover and in effect it's not a merger.

'Both of them are being disestablished and a whole new entity is being created and it will lift [them] to about number four, I understand, in New Zealand in terms of size,” the Tauranga mayor says.

'Through that new critical mass and ultimately less duplication across the Bay of Plenty of back office services, there can only be a benefit for again educational outcomes.”

Stuart wasn't aware of any potential job losses if the merger was to take place, but he remained optimistic about the future proposal.

'When there is a merger or a new institution is formed from two, there may well be in the back office. But again there could be new opportunities in a bigger stronger entity for those existing staff and for new people to come into that institution

'So yes [job losses] would be unfortunate if there are any. But I always look on the positive that a bigger stronger institution will create other opportunities for people in that industry to come in. All the way from tutors who are one of the core through to the back office staff.”