Career
Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Rakaipaaka iwi. He was born in Nuhaka, Hawke"s Bay, New Zealand on 16 August 1883. He was a great grandson of Ihaka Whaanga.
Christy emigrated to Utah Territory in 1894 with his extended family.
Christy attended high school in Salt Lake City and later graduated from Latter-day Saints" University, where he was a star athlete. In 1918, Christy and his family returned to New Zealand and settled in Nuhaka.