Labour Day

How it began:

Samuel Parnell’s Stand

On arrival in New Zealand, Samuel Parnell was asked to build a store for shipping agent George Hunter. Parnell who, while living and working in London, had been exposed to the prevailing international concern with worker’s rights, agreed to do so, but only on the condition that he not work more than eight hours a day. Though his employer protested, the shortage of skilled tradesmen in the new colony allowed Parnell to make good on his demand.Parnell organised other carpenters in the town and in October 1840 a workers’ meeting on Lambton Quay resolved a motion to adopt an eight hour working day (any worker who dissented was to be ducked in the harbour!).

Labour Day commemorates the struggle for an eight-hour working day. New

Zealand workers were among the first in the world to claim this right when, in 1840, the carpenter Samuel Parnell won an eight-hour day in Wellington. Labour Day was first celebrated in New Zealand on 28 October 1890, when several thousand trade  members and supporters attended parades in the main city centres. Government employees were given the day off to attend the parades and many businesses closed for at least part of the day.  It is also to honor all those who work hard each week day.