Gathering to mark workers’ rights at Richmond Park

Labour Day has been marked by Christchurch residents at Richmond Park.

Hundreds of people flocked to the park off Poulton Ave yesterday to remember the commitment made to workers’ rights more than 130 years ago.

Entry to the afternoon event was gained by donating a non-perishable food item to the Delta Community Trust for its foodbank in Richmond.

Organiser Adam Mcgrath from Christchurch band, The Eastern, has a long association with the union movement in Otautahi. He made sure the about 300 people at the event knew the reason they had gathered on Monday.

“It’s Labour Day man, in recent years it’s lost its power a little bit so we wanted to give it some juice,” he said.

Local resident John Minto, known for his strong opposition to the Springbok rugby tour in 1981, was also at the event.

He said New Zealand has been losing its way in terms of workers' rights over more than 20 years of successive governments.

"It’s been a dreadful part of my life to see poverty and homelessness normalised over the past 30 years since the Helen Clark government,” he said.

- By Darryl Baser