The partner of deceased rugby great Shane Christie has revealed the extent of his suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) before his suspected suicide last August. Holly Parkes described how the former Māori All Blacks star became unrecognisable as his mental health declined over a nine-year battle.
Christie, who died in November 2025, struggled with multiple serious concussions that ended his playing career. Parkes recalled his need for frequent sleep breaks and his reliance on a blacked-out office with noise-cancelling earmuffs. The most severe concussion occurred in 2016, causing his eyes to roll back and difficulty breathing.
As CTE symptoms took hold, Christie's personality shifted and he experienced constant pain. He sold his house to fund treatment in America, but Parkes said it may have been too late. He became easily stressed, lost items, and required public assistance when confused. His usual value of privacy diminished as he became more open with strangers.
Christie's death followed that of his close friend and former teammate Billy Guyton, who also died by suspected suicide two years earlier. An official CTE diagnosis was confirmed last week by a pathologist at the University of Auckland's brain bank.
