Westport is much warmer and drier than its weather readings and weather forecasters suggest, says Buller Mayor Pat McManus.
Westport's official weather station is at Westport Airport, at Carters Beach, where it's exposed to sea breezes.
"It's nearly in the sea,'' said Mr McManus.
The temperatures recorded there were often much lower than in Westport itself, he said.
Statistics from the Westport News bear this out. For example, on New Year's Eve The News' weather station in Westport recorded a high of 27.6degC - almost 3degC higher than the Westport Airport reading.
Mr McManus said Westport was also usually warmer than either Greymouth or Hokitika, but trailed its southern neighbours night after night on television news bulletins.
He saw no reason why the weather station could not be moved to the centre of town, at Victoria Square.
"Victoria Square would be pretty representative of Westport. You are not surrounded by big buildings, you are not sheltered from the wind.''
Weather forecasts were an even bigger worry. Rain forecasts often applied only to the southern West Coast, but Buller was lumped in with them.
"How many times have there been forecasts for rain, and even heavy rain, and it's bypassed us?''
- By Lee Scanlon of the Westport News
