The final decision on the proposed merger between NZME and Fairfax has been delayed.

The Commerce Commission was due to release its final decision on Wednesday, but says it will now release the decision on April 11.

'The extension is required in order for the commission to properly assess and account for the further information it has received following its draft determination and conference," says a commission spokesman in a statement released this week.

The commission proposed to reject the merger in a draft decision back in November 2016.

Chairman Dr Mark Berry says the merger would result in one media outlet controlling nearly 90 per cent of New Zealand's print media market.

This would be the second highest level of print media ownership in the world, behind only China.