Farmer urges locals to take to the field

After a break of two years, a farm just outside Blenheim has once again been transformed into a playground for the region’s families.

According to farm owner Paul Baker, the Omaka Maze on Dog Point Rd attracted around 240 people last Sunday, with fun seekers up to the age of 80 joining in the adventure.

Don’t delay though if you plan to join the dash through the 8-hectare maize field in search of clues, as the season is limited to 8 weeks, by which time the maize is drying and ready for harvest.

If you miss it, it will be another two years before you have a shot at this a‘maize’ing opportunity.

Maize is ‘quite hungry’ on the ground and requires a lot of watering, says Baker. For this reason, it is necessary to give the paddock a break, so they plan to open the maze only every 2nd year.

Over a period of about 2 weeks, as the maize is growing, Paul and wife Cath spend their spare time cutting intricate pathways through their maize fields, turning the paddock into mazes of adventure for young and old alike.

The season culminates with two nights of ‘‘horror’’, when the Bakers hire a crew of 14-15 actors in costume to infiltrate the mazes and bring some adrenaline-filled ‘‘fright’’ into the fun.

This year, the season will end with the ‘CarnEvil’. In years past, over 2000 people have experienced Corn Of The Dead, Field Of Horrors & Bakersfield Asylum. The Bakers promise this year will be even better.

The Bakers say they’ve discovered that Blenheim families can be a competitive bunch, and with this in mind, the Maze Runner route caters for the most competitive of groups.

There are a couple of options take it casual and quiz it, searching for clues along the way, or divide into teams and race it!

To quiz it, you need to find the quiz boards, and answer a question. If you answer correctly, it will lead you the right way through the maze. If you answer wrong you will go to a dead end, and who knows how long it might take?

The quiz questions change every week, so patrons are encouraged to return to see if they can conquer the maze and keep their Omaka Super Maze Runner Champion title for the summer.

To race it, two teams go up against each other and race to the finish to see who is the Omaka Super Maze Runner Champion.

The Maze Runner comprises two mazes side by side which are the mirror opposite of each other.

The Molecule Maze is similar to the previously popular Circle Maze, which creates more twists and turns and fun trying to find the five letters to create the mystery word for the week.

The mazes are open on Sundays only, from 9am to 7pm, and will also be open on Waitangi Day.

The average time is 1 hour to 1.5 hours to complete both mazes, and sturdy shoes are advised.

The tracks can be slightly undulating, but they are suitable for the off-road type buggys/ pushchairs.

Anyone under the age of 12 must have an accompanying adult.

For more information, phone Paul on 0272753778, or visit the website www.omakamaze.co.nz

BRYA INGRAM/STUFF Whoop, whoop, the maze is open! Zoe Baker, 12, Paul Baker, owner, and Ollie Baker, 10 invite locals to test their navigational skills in the Omaka Maze.