Marton maze could have continued: landowner

THE OWNER of the farm Marton's Amazing Maze is on says the maze would have had to move next month anyway, regardless of his future plans for the property.
Jim Howard, who owns Westoe farm, where the maze is located, said yesterday recent statements made by maze proprietors Beth and Andy Watson were a little misleading in implying the couple had been "forced" to shut down their operation.
Mr and Mrs Watson announced last week they were closing the Amazing Maze after they couldn't reach an agreement with the landowner.
Mr Howard said the present three-year lease was due to expire at the end of June, and the Watsons were aware of that.
Mr Howard told the Wanganui Chronicle that at the time the lease document was prepared he was already firming up his ideas to turn Westoe into an agricultural training farm.
He said there would have been no difficulty in the Watsons continuing to lease the maze area for a further one or two years, until the training farm was fully established.
There was also the possibility that an arrangement could have continued beyond that time.
However, the stumbling block was that the overall maze operation also included the "heart" of the farm ? its woolshed, sheep yards and ancillary buildings.
Mr Howard said while the Watsons, who lease the whole of Westoe, had been able to co-ordinate farming and maze operations, the new owners (the trust that will run the training farm) might be unable, or unwilling, to accommodate the maze.
Mr Howard said that, far from being obstructive and failing to keep the Watsons informed, he had "bent over backwards to be helpful and concessionary" so the maize maze (if not the additional activities) could continue to operate at least for the immediate future.
He declined to comment on why the relationship between himself and the Watsons had broken down, except to say that during the past year things had "become a bit messy".
Rangitikei Mayor Bob Buchanan yesterday distanced himself and the council from the wrangle between Mr Howard and Mr and Mrs Watson.
Although the council does have some interest ? as facilitator of the training farm project ? Mr Buchanan said the current situation was "solely between the lessee (the Watsons) and lessor (Mr Howard)".
"The council is simply trying to take an initiative to benefit the district. We do not want to become the meat in the sandwich, and I see no reason why we should be," Mr Buchanan said.