Overview

• New Zealand Police said Christie was found dead at his Nelson home and that the cause is under investigation, with the case to be referred to the coroner.
• Some local media, including reports citing the New Zealand Herald, described the case as a presumed suicide, which officials have not confirmed.
• New Zealand Rugby and the Highlanders expressed deep sadness in statements that also noted his recent coaching roles with Tasman and the Highlanders.
• Christie played for the Highlanders, Māori All Blacks and Tasman, then served as the Highlanders’ defence coach from 2021 to 2022 and worked with Tasman’s men’s and women’s teams.
• After retiring, he reported chronic concussion symptoms, advocated for CTE research, said he intended to donate his brain to science, and helped found the Billy Guyton Foundation following his friend’s 2023 death and post-mortem CTE diagnosis.