Background
He was born in Whareponga, East Coast, New Zealand in 1903.
He was born in Whareponga, East Coast, New Zealand in 1903.
Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāti Porou iwi. He was the eldest son of Materoa Reedy, née Ngarimu, and John Marshall Reedy, himself the eldest son of Thomas Tyne Reedy, an Irishman, and Mihi Takawhenua Ngawiki Tuhou. He was awarded an Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1970.
He was educated at Napier Boys" High School and Gisborne Boys" High School.
He was a Captain in the Māori Battalion in World World War II, and returned to farming after the war. He contested the Eastern Māori seat several times.
In 1957 and 1960 (when he came second) for Social Cr and in 1963, 1966 and the 1967 by-election for National.
In 1949 he was a Māori member of the New Zealand delegation to the United Nations.