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Potato chip lovers in New Zealand could in for a big shock. New Zealand is a possible potato shortage in the next few months. This there could be a lack of potato chips (crisps in British English) until next year. Newspapers are this situation the "chipocalypse". They the words "chip" and "apocalypse" to this new word. A possible chipocalypse because of a very wet winter in New Zealand. This has potato growers. In some areas, a third of the potato crop has been . The wet weather has particularly hit the potatoes that are used to make potato chips. This means makers will fewer potato chips and prices for potato chips will be higher.

A spokesman for New Zealand potato farmers the Radio Live NZ news station about the problem. Chris Claridge, head of Potatoes New Zealand, said: "It raining in March, and it just simply hasn't . We've had the entire year's worth of rainfall already, so the rainfall is 25 per cent above average and while that might not like a lot what it means is it's continuous, so the soils never a chance to out." He added: "Potatoes are actually alive. They need to , and so effectively they , and then they start to rot because they're in water." A major supermarket chain said: "We are working closely with our suppliers to supply as much as possible."