The idea of an eight-hour working day first came about in 1840 when carpenter Samuel Parnell refused to work for more than eight hours each day. Because skilled labour was hard to find in Wellington his employers were forced to accept his terms. Other workers soon followed suit.

However the ecomomy slowed and jobs became scarce and it would be another 50 years before the first Labour Day holiday was celebrated.

On this day in 1890 Samuel Parnell led a parade of 1500 people through Wellington celebrating the eight-hour working day.

Nine years later it became an official public holiday.

Labour Day originally celebrated a 48-hour working week but this was later reduced to 40 hours.

Until 1910 it was held on the second Monday of October.