Story: New Zealand Wars

Site of Carl Völkner's hanging, 1870s

Site of Carl Völkner's hanging, 1870s

Carl Völkner was a Church Missionary Society missionary at Ōpōtiki from 1861. As Te Whakatōhea became increasingly divided in their loyalties following the outbreak of war in Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Völkner tried to keep the iwi loyal to the Crown. He communicated what he had learnt from the tribe to Governor George Grey. The February 1865 arrival of Pai Mārire adherents led by Kereopa Te Rau intensified anti-British feeling. Völkner returned from Auckland on 1 March 1865. Next day he was taken to this tree about 200 metres from his church and hanged for being a spy who had betrayed the tribe. Kereopa swallowed Völkner’s eyes, describing one as Parliament and the other as the Queen and law. This event intensified tensions and colonial troops were sent to Ōpōtiki to confront the Pai Mārire followers.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: PAColl-8997

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Danny Keenan, 'New Zealand Wars - Pai Mārire, South Taranaki and Whanganui, 1864–1866', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/36930/site-of-carl-volkners-hanging-1870s (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Danny Keenan, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 29 Nov 2022