A Maze 'n' Fun

Business, Land & Buildings. Key Features: 1. Seasonal entertainment business open to the public 26 Dec to end April each year. 2. Quality Heretaunga Plains cropping land, currently planted in export onions (10ha - leased) and maize grain (6ha) 3. Architecturally designed four bedroom homestead (1979) with large country garden 4. High standard of improvements including shop, implement sheds, public toilet block, chook shed, pig pen, tack room, hay barn, wood shed and cattle/sheep yards 5. Lifestyle block with cows, sheep, goats, chooks, pigs, deer & duck 6. Current owners implementing sustainability initiatives and progressing towards organics. Business summary: A Maze 'n' Fun Limited began as an Amazing Maze 'n Maize licensed operation in the summer of 2003/04. A new pattern of maze is cut into a 5ha paddock of maize (animal feed corn) each spring and opened to the public at the end of December each year. This business has quickly become an important part of the tourism and locals activities scene in Hawke's Bay. The business is built on a rural theme and the core values of education, fun and sustainability are evident throughout. Although visitors to Hawke's Bay make up a large percentage of the customer base during January, the appeal to locals of all ages is the main target market. Through the eight years of operation, the Huddlestons have added quality infrastructure and other activities in their quest to develop it as a sustainable business. These developments have included: toilet block, 3D Vortex Tunnel experience, Puddle Pad and in 2010, Corncob Crazy Golf. Although the Amazing Maze 'n Maize activities including the day maze and haunted shows are part of a license, the recently added PuddlePad and Corncob Crazy Golf, including rights, are owned by A Maze 'n' Fun Ltd. A re-branding of the business to be known as A Maze 'n' Fun was begun in 2010. For the two months leading into the season (Nov/Dec) the business employs two part time people. Two full time and four casual staff are required to operate the business during the school holidays of January and April. This drops back to 1 full time and casuals as required during February and March (school term). On Friday nights a theatrical production called 'CornEvil' is staged. Staff of up to 28 casual people is employed with most of them being actors. The actors are placed strategically around the maze paths among various props. Visitors walk through the maze in small groups with the actors scaring the 'yell' out of them along the way. Farm Summary: The total area of 20.05ha is split roughly into four: 1. 10ha cropping land leased to an export onion grower on a year by year basis 2. 6.5ha growing maize for the business and includes the Corncob Crazy Golf. 3. 3ha in pasture for livestock (includes car parking during the season) 4. Dwelling, sections and farm buildings. The majority of the farm has been used for process crops (tomatoes, corn, peas, onions, squash, etc.) for 40 years. It comprises soil type 8, Pakipaki coarse sandy loam and 9A Te Awa deep clay loam, both of which are naturally fertile. There is a current resource consent expiring in 2023 to take water from a 100mm centrally located well for irrigation purposes, i.e. 6m3 per week. In 2005 field drainage was installed to 5ha down the western side of the farm, alongside Paki Paki Rd. The balance of the property remains un-drained. During the last four years the current owners have attempted to improve the soil structure by reducing chemical & mechanical inputs. In 2009 the decision was made to move to an organic regime and a five year implementation plan was put in place. The first two years will be used to 'wean' the soil slowly off the chemical inputs of fertilisers and sprays. The following three years will be the standard organic conversion time period leading ultimately to certification. Abron have been employed as advisors to help manage the transition with very positive results after ...