Gifting a Pounamu Touchstone to the BrainTree Community
Organisation: BrainTree Wellness Centre
Project: Pounamu Touchstone
Background:
In December 2025, amidst a gathering of community, caregivers, and team members, a new and serene presence was welcomed into the BrainTree whare.
BrainTree is NZ’s first wellness centre for brain health that supports people living with neurological conditions to live well in the community.
He Koha nā te Ngākau: A Gift From the Heart
On behalf of Moko Pounamu, founders Deane and Jennie Moreton gifted a substantial pounamu touchstone, crafted and installed as a permanent taonga for all who walk through BrainTree’s doors.
This gift was more than a donation; it was a deeply considered contribution to the kaupapa (purpose) of an organisation that provides vital support and resources for individuals and families navigating life with Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis in Christchurch.
During the unveiling, Deane Moreton shared the whakaaro (thoughts) behind this unique taonga:
“At Moko Pounamu, we’ve spent many years working with taonga shaped by the whenua (land), the wai (water), and the passage of te wā (time). When Jennie and I learned more about the incredible kaupapa here at BrainTree, it felt right to contribute something that reflects strength, grounding, and connection.”
The choice of a large, mounted touchstone rather than a small, handheld piece was intentional. As Deane explained:
“This is no small touchstone. It’s not the type you pass around or tuck into a pocket — it’s firmly anchored in this place. This pounamu is here to hold space. It brings calm, it brings grounding and it carries a quiet connection to the whenua beneath us.”
He Taonga Whakamaumahara: A Stone to Hold Memory and Presence
A core Māori belief is that pounamu can absorb and hold wairua (spirit) and mana (prestige). This inspired a beautiful and inclusive intention for the stone’s use within the BrainTree community.
We encourage people to touch the stone. Pounamu has a beautiful way of absorbing the natural oils from our hands – our warmth, our wairua, our mana. Over time, that becomes part of the stone. It carries the presence of the people who connect with it, building a shared story and a sense of continuity within this space.
In this way, the touchstone becomes a living archive of connection. For individuals facing conditions that affect memory, it offers a tangible, calm point of focus. For whānau and staff, it becomes a symbol of collective strength and the enduring impact of their care and compassion.
