The Karamea community is worried about what would happen to the isolated town if its one permanent police officer was removed.

Around 140 people turned out to a public meeting last night to discuss the proposed reshuffle of police services on the West Coast.

It would see police operate seasonally in the small beachside town.

Buller District Councillor Lynn Brooks said the community is worried about what will happen if they do need police immediately.

"They just rejected [the proposal] out of hand," she said. "The message was that we had an officer based here, they were doing a really great job because our crime rates are very low."

"The community were saying 'We're so isolated so what happens when we need a police officer if there isn't one based here, and what will happen while we have to wait'."