He was born in
Whareponga,
East Coast, New Zealand, on 16 August 1903. 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.
Hekia Parata, a former member of Parliament, is his granddaughter. Reedy was educated at
Napier Boys' High School and
Gisborne Boys' High School. ==Adult life==