[3][4][6] Kay was born in Auckland in 1926, his father owned and operated a womenswear manufacturing and retailing business, and his mother was a homemaker.

The family lived in Remuera, and Kay attended King's College, Auckland from 1939 to 1943, where he was a house prefect, and won a tennis championship and an intercollegiate high jump competition.

Kay later enrolled in accounting at the University of Auckland, while not completing his studies he was active in athletics and played rugby.

After the 1989 New Zealand local government reforms, ARA became the Auckland Regional Council and Kay remained chairperson until 1992.

[10] Kay was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1990 New Year Honours, for services to local government, sport and the community.