Today is D-Day for those waiting to find out what caused the Havelock North water contamination crisis.

The Government's report into how more than 5,000 people became struck down with campylobacter from the town's drinking water will be publicly released this afternoon.

The chair of the Government's Inquiry Panel, Lynton Stevens QC, will be holding a special public meeting today, to deliver stage one of the report

The report is expected to outline how the town's water became infected with sheep faeces - resulting in a third of Havelock North's population of 14,000 people to be sick with the gastro bug, campylobacter.

The outbreak has also been linked to three deaths.

The panel chair will front the public meeting at the Hastings District Court from 1.45 this afternoon.