A Napier resident is sick of waking up every morning and looking across the Ahuriri Estuary to see pou in a "disgraceful" condition.
After letters to the Napier City Council and to the Government, Joy Morris wants something to be done.
In March this year Mrs Morris sent a letter to Maori party co-leader Marama Fox and her letter of concern was handed to Napier Mayor Bill Dalton.
Mr Dalton then said he forwarded the letter to appropriate staff members and the matter would be followed up.
However, now five months later, the pou are still in a "poor state".
"There is bare wood showing as the paint has come off and you are not supposed to see the wood, they are disgraceful."
"You would never see that in a marae and you would never let your house get like that so why have these spiritual statues been allowed to get like that."
Mrs Morris started her mission to get the pou restored three years ago after she overheard tourists saying "what are those things".
"I couldn't believe they said 'things' I had to turn around and tell them those are not 'things' in fact they are very spiritual statues to protect the estuary."
"They are wonderful pieces of Maori heritage yet people who walk or run past them have no idea what they are as there is nothing there telling them and they don't look well kept."
There are sign posts throughout the estuary which explain what the things to look out for are, so Mrs Morris felt there should be something to show off these important posts.
"I am just sick of seeing them like this and I have even offered to buy the paint but no one has come back to me. I am in my seventies so I can hardly climb up there and paint them."
Napier Mayor Bill Dalton said the pou were on Department of Conservation land and they were in the process of discussing with DoC and will soon launch a plan for the estuary.
"Part of this plan will be the restoration of the pou, so it is something that we are looking into and are aware of."