Ōpōtiki Confiscation

The mass land confiscation of the Ōpōtiki region was triggered by a series of events. Primarily the dispute between Whakatōhea and the crown began over a series of conflicts within the Bay of Plenty region in 1864. As a result of these conflicts, the iwi grew distrustful of the government and the government officials operating in Ōpōtiki.

One of these officials was the Anglican missionary Carl Volkner from Germany. Whakatōhea warned Volkner that he would not be safe in Ōpōtiki if he continued to report to the government. Upon his return to the region after giving his report to Governor Grey, he was regarded by the iwi as a spy for the government. Thus, he was captured and killed by the iwi.

The death of Volkner led to the first invasion of Ōpōtiki by the crown in 1865 and later a mass confiscation of the entire region.

Dr Evelyn Stokes presented to the University of Waikato Library a box of materials relating to this event. The box contained copies of papers comprising the Ōpōtiki records from the Compensation Court which was set up under the New Zealand Settlements Act 1863 and Amendments.