 He graduated from the University of Auckland with a commerce degree, and obtained accountancy and chartered secretarial qualifications from Auckland Institute of Technology.In 1983, Hay was elected as a member of the Mount Roskill Borough Council, and served as mayor of that borough between 1987 and 1989, when it was absorbed into Auckland City.He was subsequently elected to the Auckland City Council on the Citizens & Ratepayers ticket, and served as deputy mayor between 1991 and 1998 under Les Mills, and from 2001 to 2004 and 2007 to 2010 under John Banks.