National, Labour, the Greens and ACT are carefully steering clear of the Ports of Auckland industrial strife but the Mana Party isn't shy about taking sides.
Leader Hone Harawira says the outcome is going to affect workers' rights nationwide.
"Workers across the country need to wake up and smell the coffee," he said on Thursday.
"If the wharfies lose, this right-wing government will see it as an endorsement to go ahead with the casualisation of hours and it will be another blow to the union movement."
Five strikes have been held because Auckland Council-owned Ports of Auckland wants to introduce more flexible workforce hours and there's no resolution in sight.
Mr Harawira says the attitude taken by other parties is "a load of crap" and the dispute is highly political.
"In 1951 there was a watershed strike involving wharfies. Today we are faced with another defining moment regarding employment rights in this country."
News home