Nelson mayor Dr Nick Smith says the region is 'punch drunk with bad news' following a proposal from potato chip company Proper Crisps to close its factory and move manufacturing to Auckland. The company, owned by Griffin’s, on Thursday signalled the proposed closure of its Stoke factory in late 2027.

According to Potatoes New Zealand, domestic sales of potato chips have grown by about 15 percent each year over the past three. New Zealanders spent NZD 157 million (USD 112 million ) on potato chips in 2015