Description:

Labour Rights, Strikes, and the Enduring Fight is a printed publication that explores the history of labour movements in Aotearoa New Zealand. It offers a non-exhaustive retelling of key moments in the country’s industrial and union history, a collective memory of work, resistance, and solidarity. From the early 19th century to the present day, this publication reflects on how strikes, union action, and organised labour have shaped not only working conditions, but the broader social and economic fabric of the nation.

At the heart of this project is a belief in the power of collective voice. The publication was conceived as a way to honour those, past and present, who have fought for fairer workplaces and improved conditions for all. While protest may be temporary, printed matter can extend its reach, preserving stories, elevating voices, and sustaining momentum. This work is a gesture toward that continuity.

The design approach was driven by the idea of print as protest and preservation. Drawing from professional industry standards in editorial design, the project involved the development of detailed typographic systems, grid structures, and material choices that support the publication’s conceptual intent. The 130 x 209 mm format references the scale and portability of protest pamphlets, intimate and easily circulated. Colour and paper stocks were carefully selected for their historical and symbolic ties to working-class identity. Each copy is hand-bound and screen printed, reinforcing the value of labour and craft in the act of publishing.