Planning your Labour Weekend?

In 1840 a carpenter by the name of Samuel Parnell fought for workers rights to only work an eight hour day making New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to claim this right.  We first celebrated Labour Day on 28 November 1890.

In 1894 The Liberals' Industrial Conciliation & Arbitration system was introduced, earning New Zealand a reputation for being a 'working man's paradise' and a 'country without strikes'. In honor of Samuels’ efforts lets celebrate this Labour Weekend with a bit of D.I.Y.

Whatever the job you decide to take on over the long weekend, in order for it to be a great success it will require good planning. Remember, Proper Planning Prevents Particularly Poor Production. As many of us are time poor, making the most of our Labour Weekend is essential.

Start with taking your project and breaking it down into easy to manage well-detailed stages. This will also help make it feel less daunting.

Next, write up a list with all the tools and materials you will need. Seek advice from tradies and the team at your local Mitre 10 store for all the tips and tricks. Giving yourself as much information and knowledge as possible when going into a new project is the best way to ensure your project runs smoothly. Make sure you work out what materials you’re going to need and get them delivered before the weekend, alternatively use the free loan trailer available at your local Mitre 10 store.

Take photos at every stage of the job; these may come in handy later if you are covering things up i.e. behind wallboards.

Remember, if you’re digging holes, do you know where your plumbing and power is situated? To find out where your electrical cables are located in the ground, you will need to contact your electricity provider. This information is not available on council records. However, talking to the council about your job is a good idea, to check if you require any consents. You can also find information and guidance on building legislation and controls on the MBIE website here: http://www.building.govt.nz/building-index

Whatever job you decide to tackle this Labour Weekend in our 'working man/woman’s paradise', take your time and enjoy the process.

Your Labour Weekend checklist: