New Zealand facing 'chipocalypse' as crisp shortage hits supermarkets

New Zealand is facing a potential crisp crisis – dubbed the “chipocalypse” – as bad winter weather leaves the country with a shortage of potatoes.

Persistent wet weather has waterlogged potato fields, making them harder to harvest and pushing up their price.

New Zealand’s North Island, where crisping varieties of potatoes are grown, has suffered some of the worst weather.

Industry body Potatoes New Zealand says the price for a kilogram of potatoes has already risen sharply in the past year from AUD $1.63 (97 pence) in August 2016 to $2.12 (£1.26) a year later.

After warnings of the shortage appeared in some supermarket aisles, crisp fans took to social media to voice their fears.

Some contemplated the impending crisp crisis with amusement.

Others mourned the lack of reasonable alternatives.

In the southern hemisphere, it is now spring following a particularly bad winter.

"It started raining in March, and it just simply hasn't stopped," said Chris Claridge, head of Potatoes New Zealand, blaming the third-wettest year on record.

Speaking to Radio Live NZ, he said farmers had not had the dry periods their crops needed.

"Potatoes are actually alive - they need to breathe. And so effectively they drown, and then they start to rot... because they're submerged in water," he said.

The shortage is likely to hit processed potato foods hardest in a few months time.