High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Hon. William Pember Reeves (b. 10 February 1857 in Lyttelton, New Zealand, d. 16 May 1932 in London) was a New Zealand statesman, historian and poet, who promoted social reform. Reeves' parents were William Reeves (who was a journalist and politician) and Ellen Reeves née Pember; they had migrated to Canterbury in 1857, arriving three weeks before he was born. He was educated at a private prep school in Christchurch, the local high school, and (1867 74) the Christ's College Grammar School. Before entering politics, Reeves was a lawyer and journalist. He was editor of the Canterbury Times in 1885 and the Lyttelton Times (1889 1891).