Carl Sylvius Völkner (German pronunciation: [fœlknɐ]; c. 1819 – 2 March 1865) was a German-born Protestant missionary active in the North Island of New Zealand during the mid-nineteenth century.

[1] On 19 May 1864 Völkner recorded that four of the 16 Christian teachers of the Ōpōtiki district had accompanied a Pai Mārire (Hauhau) campaign to Maketu, although not as active participants in the fighting.

He proclaimed its perpetrators “fanatics” and in September 1965 declared martial law in the Bay of Plenty, ordering Ōpōtiki locals to assist government forces or face land confiscation.

[6][7] Once Grey's men had made successful landfall at Ōpōtiki, they opened fire indiscriminately at the local inhabitants, forcing them to retreat into nearby forest.

Mokomoko, unaware he was the prime suspect behind the orchestration of Völkner’s death, surrendered in Ōpōtiki on condition that no punishment be inflicted upon Te Whakatōhea.

Kereopa Te Rau, who ate Völkner’s eyes, fled into Tūhoe country after Grey sent troops to the Bay of Plenty.

After pardon was later granted to those involved in Völkner’s death, the church was renamed again as Hiona St Stephen’s on 5 June 1994[9] Te Paepae o Aotea, also known the Volkner Rocks, are named after him.