Local Tim O’Donnell turns the power of the infamous Westport Bar in his favour on a foiling surfboard. Born at Lake Rotoiti at the top of the Southern Alps, the Buller River runs west to the coast, spilling into the Tasman at Westport (originally called Buller). Māori lived here in the 14^th century, trading pounamu, with sealers, gold miners then coal miners arriving from the 17^th century—the river and port serving them all.