born in methven, canterbury, kennedy was educated at st bede's college and at the university of canterbury in christchurch. he also worked as a journalist for several newspapers including the "christchurch star-sun" and the melbourne-based "the herald", before returning to new zealand to become the editor of "the tablet" in dunedin. during his work as a journalist, he won several awards including the cowan memorial prize for good journalism in 1947 and the kemsley empire scholarship for journalism in 1950. in the 1974 new year honours, kennedy was appointed an officer of the order of the british empire, for services to journalism.