Ngati Kahungunu is supporting plans to merge five local councils, partly because it has to respond to so many territorial rules and plans from separate authorities.
The Local Government Commission suggests five local councils in Hawke's Bay should be combined.
Ngati Kahungunu chairperson Ngahiwi Tomoana says the province would benefit from being under one brand, particularly for exporting.
He says in his tribe's rohe (district), there are eight local councils and three regional authorities.
Mr Tomoana says opportunities are being lost because councils are territorial.
People have until March to make a submission on the draft proposal.
