Overview

• Authorities said Christie was found dead at his home in Nelson, New Zealand, and formal inquiries are underway.
• Police have not determined a cause of death and the case has been sent to the coroner, with New Zealand media reporting a suspected suicide investigation.
• New Zealand Rugby, the Highlanders and Tasman issued condolences, noting his impact as a player and later as a coach.
• Christie retired in 2018 due to severe concussion symptoms and later described ongoing headaches, memory lapses and fatigue.
• He advocated for concussion and CTE research, said he suspected he had the disease, intended to donate his brain and helped found the Billy Guyton Foundation after his friend’s 2023 death and post‑mortem CTE diagnosis.