- Shane Christie played more than 100 games of first grade
The partner of deceased rugby great Shane Christie has revealed just how much he suffered in the final part of his life due to the relentless symptoms of the deadly brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Holly Parkes has spoken about the difficulties Christie faced before he reportedly took his own life after a nine-year battle as his mental health declined.
By the time the Māori All Blacks star died of suspected suicide last August, he had become unrecognisable compared to the man he was before he suffered multiple serious concussions.
Christie struggled to cope with what was suspected to be CTE at the time, yet he remained determined to stay involved in the game.
‘When concussions ended his playing career, he transitioned to coaching alongside me,’ Parkes told Stuff NZ.
‘I still remember how often he needed sleep breaks throughout the day or had to sit in a blacked-out office with noise-cancelling earmuffs on.’
Holly Parkes (pictured left) has spoken out about the pain her partner Shane Christie (pictured right) endured before he died
Christie (pictured) died of a suspected suicide after struggling with the symptoms of the deadly brain disease CTE
The rugby star (pictured with Harper) passed away in November 2025
The severity of Christie’s concussions worsened over time, with the most serious of them occurring in 2016.
‘These were very, very big hits. After one of his last ones in 2016, his eyes were rolling to the back of his head, and he was having difficulty breathing,’ Parkes said.
As the long-term symptoms of his head injuries began to take hold, every aspect of Christie’s life changed.
His personality shifted and he struggled to adapt to life while enduring constant, overwhelming pain.
The former All Black found it almost impossible to cope with the daily pain and sought ways to alleviate his symptoms.
‘He was selling his house to pay for treatment in America so that he could try and get his head right,’ Parkes added.
‘He took so many trips looking for ‘the best’ overseas, but I think it was just a bit too late or not comprehensive enough.
‘When he became stressed, he didn’t seem to be able to handle it as well as he used to.
‘He would lose things and sometimes had to ask people in public to help him because he was confused or overwhelmed.
‘Privacy had always been one of his key values, but even that changed a lot when he became much more open to letting strangers into our lives.’
Christie’s death came just two years after his close friend and former teammate Billy Guyton also died of a suspected suicide.
The strong suspicion that Christie was suffering from CTE was confirmed when he was officially diagnosed with the condition by a pathologist at the University of Auckland’s brain bank last week.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
