Labour Day in New Zealand commemorates the establishment of the eight-hour workday led by Samuel Parnell in 1840, celebrates workers' rights, and serves today as both a historical reminder and a springtime holiday.

When is Labour Day?

Labour Day in New Zealand is celebrated every year on the fourth Monday in October.

The following is the list of Labour Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Labour Day?

The origins of Labour Day trace back to Samuel Parnell, a carpenter who arrived in Wellington in 1840. When offered work, Parnell insisted he would only accept if he worked eight hours a day, refusing the long hours common in Britain at the time.

His stance caught on, and soon other tradesmen in Wellington adopted the "eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, and eight hours for recreation" principle. This made New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to establish the eight-hour workday as a standard practice.

Throughout the 19th century, the idea spread across New Zealand, though enforcement varied. Labour organizations and trade unions began to campaign for the eight-hour day to be recognized as a universal right.

By the 1870s and 1880s, the movement had gained momentum, with workers across the country demanding better working conditions.

The first official Labour Day was celebrated on October 28, 1890, marking the 50th anniversary of Parnell's stand in Wellington. Parades were held in cities such as Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, with thousands of workers marching in solidarity.

The celebrations honored both the success of the eight-hour day and the broader workers' rights movement.

In 1899, the New Zealand government declared Labour Day a public holiday, to be observed on the second Wednesday of October. In 1910, the date was shifted to the fourth Monday in October, giving workers a long spring weekend.

In the early 20th century, Labour Day was marked by large parades and union demonstrations, reinforcing its political and social importance. Over time, the day became less about marches and more about a general holiday for workers, with unions occasionally still using it to highlight ongoing labor issues.

Today, Labour Day is widely seen as both a celebration of New Zealand's pioneering role in labor rights and a springtime long weekend for rest and recreation.