I'm going to tell the largely untold story of the significant contribution to the struggle made by the organised working class.

...Auckland leaders of the Communist party met with the Orakei Maori Action Committee for authorisation to approach workers to win support for the land occupation and the Green Ban.

Jimmy O'Dea and Trent Richards led the Communist's practical work in this campaign, which involved some 40 party members at its height. The Orakei Maori Action Committee elected Jimmy O'Dea and Willy Pirama to call meetings with industrial workers all around Auckland.

A priority was talking to staff at Wilson Rothery, contracted to build roads through the Bastion point sub-division. With backing from their Maori job delegate, Bill Abraham, Wilson Rothery workers voted to support the green ban and refuse to open up the land. They also offered financial support to the occupiers. Without road builders, little else could be done at bastion Point.

Another early meeting was arranged with NZ Breweries workers through their walking delegate Tom McClintock. Occupation delegates visited the brewery along with trades council officials. Workers pledged financial support to the occupation, levying themselves $2 each per week.

This practical alliance between workers and Maori delivered the occupation's Meeting House. Jimmy O'Dea asked his friend, Irish activist, Alfie Byrne, to approach Irish contractors, Green& McCahill with a $100 tender to remove a large wooden warehouse in Wiri.

The leftwing Bower brothers who operated a small trucking firm, loaned their vehicles to transport the demolished warehouse to Bastion point.