Exactly seven years on from her viral and controversial chip ranking, Mad Chapman canvases the snack landscape of New Zealand once more. Plus: a printable chips buying guide for when the choice is overwhelming.

Every single wedding I’ve attended in the past seven years, without fail, has included a discussion about chips. The obligatory questions asked of your reception table mates leads to me saying I write for The Spinoff, and very quickly the dots are connected and someone I’ve just met is telling me about their favourite chip. I genuinely love it, and no two preferences are the same. When times are scary and there’s so much intense information we’re supposed to be learning every day, the one thing every single New Zealander is an authority on is their own taste in chips.

And what I’ve learned is that much has changed in the seven years since I ranked all 123 chip flavours in New Zealand. A dozen flavours have disappeared but, more crucially, a whole 50(!) new contenders have emerged. So it had to be done again.

A note on method: outside of forever remembering what my favourites were in 2019, I did not revisit the first ranking and treated this as an entirely new project. Where possible, equivalent flavours/cuts across brands were tasted at the same time. I tasted some flavours with friends and family and their thoughts were taken into consideration but ultimately this ranking is just one Mad’s opinion. I have aged seven years which means you’ll notice a sudden fondness for ready salted chips.

A note on criteria: there are more than 170 “chips” in New Zealand. My basic rule was that it had to be available in the chips aisle of major supermarkets and dairies. I did not include pea chips (be serious now) or dehydrated chips. I also have only included some supermarket brand flavours, for two reasons. 1) The availability is inconsistent, 2) the duopoly has enough power and their chips are average at best.

170-168 AKA disqualified and banished to hell

This feels like end-game for consumerism. I don’t even know what to say except we should all be deeply embarrassed that some money-making machine went yep, they’ll fall for this shit. And we should be even more embarrassed that they were probably right. I’m getting angry just looking at that picture while I type. Let’s take our regular chips and make them small and put them in a Pringles tube. People get paid lots of money for thinking these things!!! Aren’t you angry?!?!

167. Stax Original

OK, on to the actual chips. Putting this dead last because it’s a liar and a thief. The packet says its flavour is “Original”. That’s not a flavour but, as we all understand it, Original means no flavour: the original chip, unadorned. Maybe a little salt or something. But not this. I put this chip in my mouth expecting little and was bombarded with some variation of chicken flavouring. Could have been fine if I’d been expecting chicken or onion but instead I felt like the guy from I Think You Should Leave who claims if a dish is supposed to be served cold, eating it warm is like burning your tongue.

166. ETA Uppercuts Black Truffle and Sea Salt

Another liar. The very last chip I tasted and absolutely not truffle-flavoured. There’s half a breath of it and then the actual taste is a mild, slightly sour salt and vinegar. Felt like I was being tricked with street magic and I do not enjoy that feeling.

165. Bluebird BBQ Twisties

What if we combined the new bad Burger Rings and the new bad Twisties to make an even worse third thing? Am convinced this was a mixup at the factory and they just ran with it. Saw them on a massive special for four weeks running at Whangārei Pak’n’Sav and even then no one was touching them. In the words of a woman who messaged The Spinoff in 2019: didn’t ask for it, don’t want it!

164. Mexicano Natural

OK seriously what are these for? Allegedly they’re for people with allergies or who are “health conscious” (but not taste conscious). Literally taste like nothing. Took them to a friend’s place and left most of the packet there and genuinely felt like a rude guest.

163. Heartland Chicken, Cranberry and Brie

DISGUSTANG. Ate one chip, hated it and that was all. Does actually taste like brie and also pizza crust so now I have to ask: who the hell wants to taste that in powder form on a potato chip?

162-160. Pams Cheese Flavoured Corn Chips, Pams Double Cheese Flavoured Corn Chips, Pams Sweet Thai Chilli Flavoured Corn Chips

There’s something eerie about a “flavoured” in the name of a chip. These three are certainly “flavoured” in that they don’t really taste like they have any real ingredients on them. One friend remarked that he enjoyed them because “you forget you’re eating them”.

159-158. Natural Chip Co Veggie Straws Lightly Salted, Natural Chip Co Lentil Whirls Tangy Tomato

When I asked Griffin’s for a full list of its chip flavours, it included Natural Chip Co’s veggie straws and lentil whirls. You could certainly make an argument that they’re as much a chip as burger rings but unfortunately they don’t vibe like chips so they’re just lucky to not be disqualified.

157. Kettle Chip Company Original Sea Salt 

Oil tasted stale and salt didn’t feel right. The worst of the kettle salted chips.

156. ETA Sweet Vinaigrette and Pink Shallots

Am always morally confused when I see breast cancer awareness marketing on, for example, a packet of chips. Anyway, it’s a weak version of Delisio – not worth buying (and potentially not even available any more) and if you want to support a charity, just donate direct.

155. Heartland Lamb and Mint

Look, bonus points for actually tasting a bit like lamb and mint but we really don’t need a mint chip now or ever. Note: I know there’s a Bluebird version of this flavour but couldn’t find it at my local supermarket(s). Can only assume it also tastes minty.

154-150. Woolworths Salt & Vinegar, Chicken, Sour Cream & Chives, Ready Salted, Green Onion

These chips aren’t bad per se, but when there are a ridiculous 170 options (I’ll rant more about this later), it makes no sense whatsoever to buy these. Half the time they’re the same price if not more expensive than much better chips.

149. ETA Ripples Chicken

Don’t be fooled by the nostalgia. It may taste like birthday parties at the pool but it is objectively quite a bad taste.

148. Heartland Extreme Cut Maple Bacon

Unfortunately the cut of this chip lessens the whole flavour and makes me think this cut exists entirely as a Lynx spray men-only-buy-black experiment. Really unnecessary, especially when Heartland’s classic wave cut is so good.

147. Proper Crisps Cider Vinegar & Sea Salt

I’m going to preface this by saying the packet of chips I ate felt like a dud run. But as any athlete knows, you have to show up on the day. It had no personality and somehow tasted not sea salty enough and yet not vinegary enough (I know I’ve tasted these before and been overwhelmed by the vinegar which supports my dud run thesis, but sadly this is what I ate).

146. Bluebird Crispy Bacon

Too powdery and rindy.

145-142. Woolworths Tube Original, Tube Sour Cream & Onion, Tube Salt & Vinegar, Tube BBQ

Again, it’s a reconstituted potato (with 67% potato) and wasn’t offensively bad but the big “NO ADDED MSG” on the front of the cylinder does somehow feel offensive. Gives the same energy as a man saying “no homo”. Technically true but why do you sound scared?

141. Doritos Original Salted

Just get a tortilla chip at this point.

140. Snackachangi Great Uncle Kenny’s Fried Chicken

Initial taste is that cheap 90s chicken flavour from chicken noodle sachets but then the follow through is confusing. Are you a herb chip? A spice chip? A chicken chip? It doesn’t deliver particularly well in any of them.

139. Bluebird Burger Rings

Our first champion has fallen. The silver medallist in 2019 has fallen from grace due to, I can only assume, a change in how they’re made. First of all, they don’t fit on a finger any more so the “rings” part is just a lie (they are also barely round). Secondly, they taste like they’ve been sprinkled with soy sauce? A sad end for what was once the king of not-really-chips.

138. Twisties

See above re fall from grace. Absolutely not worth the mess any more.

137. Rashuns

And again. A trio of has-beens. Like watching those movies with all the old A-listers reuniting on a road trip. The Wild Hogs (2007) of New Zealand chips.

136. Tostitos Cantina Smoked Chipotle

I have to put this here because I couldn’t find it anywhere, but it’s still better than the new Rashuns on potential alone.

135-134. ETA Ripples Ready Salted, ETA Ripples Salt & Vinegar

I’m sorry but it has to be said. ETA Ripples are just not very nice. They always have a strange darker tinge and taste a tiny bit stale no matter where you buy them. I get that they’re cheap on multi-buy deals but most consumers only buy one packet of chips at a time and in that case, for the love of god pick something else.

133. Bluebird Thinly Cut Chicken

We are entering the dreaded dead zone of a mammoth ranking, where nobody cares unless I dare to put a Proper Crisps flavour down here.

132. ETA Ripples Cheese & Onion

So I’m going to get something off my chest.

131. Bluebird Thinly Cut Ready Salted

It is frankly upsetting how many chip flavours there are in New Zealand.

130. ETA Uppercuts Smoky Short Rib

And I’m not just saying that because I had to eat them all and my skin got very oily as a result.

129. Bluebird Thinly Cut Sour Cream & Chives

For example: There is no reason beyond profit-grabbing that Bluebird should have a whole line of thin cut chips. I’m not opposed to thin cut chips, in fact I rather enjoy them.

128. Delisio Red Curry

But Bluebird is owned by the same company as Delisio.

127. Bluebird Fried Chicken Squid Game

Which is not immediately obvious. But does make you feel like you’re making a choice even when you aren’t.

126. Doritos Salsa

The company that owns Bluebird and Delisio also owns Doritos.

125. Grain Waves Sweet Chilli

And Grain Waves (Sunkist).

124. Copper Kettle Garlic Paprika

And Copper Kettle.

123. Cheetos Crunchy Cheese

And Cheetos.

122. Tostitos Cantina – Lightly Salted

And Tostitos.

121. Bluebird Thinly Cut Green Onion

It’s all the same company.

120. Bluebird Chilli & Lime Squid Game

OK, you’re thinking, we all knew Bluebird was massive. But there’s lots of local chip makers which is cool. Chips are our thing!

119. ETA Ripples Sour Cream & Chives

Wrong.

118. ETA Ridgies Rock Salt & Cider Vinegar

ETA is owned by Griffin’s (itself owned by the German company Intersnack).

117. ETA Cornados Thai Sweet Chilli

I feel like Griffin’s is really trading off the fact that it used to be a New Zealand-owned company. But it’s not any more – though it still has plenty of employees here.

116. Snackachangi Vinegar & Salt

Griffin’s/Intersnack also owns Snackachangi (and yes I do believe Vinegar & Salt is one of the worst options out there).

115. Kettle Chip Company Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream

It also owns Kettle Chip Company.

114. Proper Crisps Chilli Crisp

And Proper Crisps.

113. Natural Chip Company Lentil Whirls Feta & Garlic

And the Natural Chip Company.

112. Mexicano Thai Sweet Chilli

And Mexicano.

111. ETA Ripples Pickled Onion

Remember those headlines at the end of last year about Griffin’s proposing to close the Proper Crisps and Mexicano factories in Nelson and Lower Hutt respectively to consolidate production in Wiri? How interesting and unsurprising. Griffin’s did not respond to a request for an update on that proposal.

110. Bluebird BBQ Pork Belly Squid Game

So while you might look at a chip aisle and think there’s heaps of competition and you can pick your local maker/owner of choice. This is how it really is.

109. Delisio Restaurant Malaysian Beef Rendang

Because every giant international snack company wants their grimy little fingers in every single pie.

108. Pringles American Sticky BBQ

It’s not just in chips. The blanket approach is, well, a blanket issue. It’s why Mercedes pickup trucks exists. And why McDonald’s is selling chicken wings.

107. ETA Munchos Cheese & Onion

It’s why every major footwear brand now has a shoe that looks kind of like Crocs and a sandal that looks kind of like Birkenstocks.

106. ETA Uppercuts Himalayan Pink Salt & Black Pepper

And it’s why I nearly SCREAMED when I saw those cursed mini Doritos and Grain Waves. I nearly gave up on this whole ranking out of spite.

105. Doritos The Boss Taco

Why can’t Doritos just make nice cheesy corn chips instead of this weird flavour?

104. Pringles Japanese Sticky Teriyaki

This flavour is also weird but at least Mars (parent company) hasn’t put out a flat Pringle yet. Or a corn Pringle.

103. Delisio Restaurant Chinese BBQ Duck w Hoisin Sauce

Anyway, my point is, while millions of chips are made in New Zealand, the companies themselves are not New Zealand-owned.

102. Lays Stax Sour Cream and Onion

If you consider yourself a patriotic consumer (as good an approach to take as any) and used to refuse to buy Arnotts because they were the Australian biscuit competitor, there are only two chip brands for you…

101. Heartland Kettle Cooked Honey Mustard

Heartland (potato)…

100. Go Nutz Just Salted

…and Go Nutz (corn).

99. Hooleys Waves Salt & Vinegar

Other chips may be manufactured in New Zealand (not these ones).

98. Bluebird Cheezels

But Heartland and Go Nutz are the only truly locally owned chip brands left. Luckily they’re both exceptionally good at what they do and have, so far, resisted the urge to introduce every product under the sun.

97. Heartland Thickest of the thick Sour Cream & Chives

In saying that, Heartland has five cuts of potato chip available – Classic wave cut, Kettle, Thickest of the Thick, Extreme Crunch, and Super Thick Flats. That’s at least one cut too many.

96-94. Heartland Extreme Crunch Sweet Chilli, Heartland Extreme Crunch Southern Sea Salt, Heartland Extreme Crunch Apple Cider Vinegar

This teen boy variation of a thick cut, which appears to be a cross between a kettle chip and a wave cut, is wholly unnecessary. Every flavour offered in this range (except one, which comes later) is available in the wave cut and each one tastes better as a wave cut. And yet my business brain can see why it’s there. Heartland Extreme Crunch is the only true competitor to Snackachangi for crunch.

93. ETA Uppercuts Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar

The ETA Uppercuts range is surprisingly good considering how bad ETA regular range is but this particular flavour is nothing to write home about. And when did they get so thin? I remember when they brought out the lamb and mint and honey soy chicken flavours way back in the day and they were more like a kettle chip.

92. ETA Ridgies Salted

Sure, if it’s on special.

91. Hooleys Waves Original Salted

A buzzy “chip” but when you’re going buzzy you can’t then just sprinkle salt on it.

90. ETA Ridgies Flame Grilled Ribs

Not the right cut of chip for meat flavours.

89. ETA Cheese Balls

There’s nothing new to say about these. Can’t believe they’re still around.

88. Bluebird Poppa Jacks

Kinda not that good, turns out? Very oily.

87. Snackachangi Sweet Chilli

Doesn’t seem to know what it is and doesn’t work as a flavour with a rock hard chip anyway.

86. Heartland Super Thick Flats Southern Sea Salt

Too thick and dense for a simple salted.

85. Snackachangi Salted

Fine but given how many ready salted options there are out there, I can only assume you’re buying this one like a child: because of the fun picture. Side note: I know the whole selling point of Snackachangi is that it’s got the biggest crunch but if you ask me, it’s 10% too crunchy. Like, almost stale.

84-83. Heartland Thickest of the Thick Southern Salt, Heartland Thickest of the Thick Salt & Vinegar

When I first ate both of these I really liked them. Then I ate them alongside all the other higher end versions and realised this cut is just not really needed. However, if you are exclusively eating them with kiwi onion dip, they make for a great dipper.

82-81. Copper Kettle Vintage Cheddar, Kettle Chip Company Mature Cheddar

There’s something quite unholy about a cheesy potato chip. Even though I know in my heart that these don’t taste bad, I can’t morally abide them. Solo cheese on corn chips only, please.

80. Delisio Prawn Cocktail

Doesn’t taste like fish. Why do prawn cocktail flavours taste nothing like prawn? Just call it tomato BBQ and move on. Also this flavour needs a thicker chip.

79. ETA Cornados Cheese Supreme

Kinda taste like you’re going to be sick later.

78. ETA Munchos Salt & Vinegar

Burnt tongue.

77. Cheetos Cheese & Bacon Balls

No one in their right mind is going “should I get a ready salted potato chip or should I get Cheetos?” If you’re buying Cheetos, nothing I say will stop you so they’re right here in the middle.

76. Cheetos Flamin Hot

See above but sore mouth.

75. Pringles Chilli & Zesty

Let’s not do this. Side note: Is it just me or have Pringles been on special for like three years running? They’re so cheap now.

74. Tostitos Rounds Mild Mexican Salsa

This is definitely mild. Weirdly sweet and therefore not hearty enough for a corn chip.

73. Proper Crisps Rosemary & Thyme

Everyone hated me the first time for this but unfortunately these don’t taste any better to me seven years later.

72. Mexicano Lightly Salted

If I hadn’t just read the packet I would’ve assumed these were “natural” (derogatory). Heavy emphasis on the “lightly” here and honestly not sure what the point is.

71. Doritos Chaos Cajun Chicken

There’s a reason you don’t see many chicken-flavoured corn chips.

70. Tostitos Rounds Lightly Salted

Everyone reaches an age where a plain salted corn chip is suddenly delicious. I have not yet reached this age.

69. Heartland Wave Cut Salt & Vinegar

A good solid chip but considering the sheer quality on offer at Heartland, these are down low.

68. Pams Chicken

Just kinda tastes like every other basic chip.

67. Grain Waves Sour Cream & Chives

Unfortunately I’m still mad about the “mini Grain Waves” crime. Grain Waves in a tube! We are beyond saving.

66. Grain Waves Caramelised Onion & Balsamic

Surprisingly good but I am partial to this specific flavour combo. Grain waves are a real “eat alone” chip. I wouldn’t risk taking them to a party but they do have the best single serve size. Also funny that it’s just “balsamic”, no vinegar.

65. Snackachangi BBQ  

Just fine, really. Can’t hold a candle to the other kettle varieties.

64. Tostitos Cantina Splash of Lime

What is this shape? Why is it so long? Supposedly for good dipping but many snapped in my fingers mid guacamole-swipe so I think not. A decent crunch but just can’t really get into the lime sorry.

63. Bluebird Sour Cream & Chives

Really strong, really powdery.

62. Doritos Nacho Cheese

Kind of a light salty cheese that I don’t hate but also don’t think is the best chip for nachos. Quite an indictment when you’re the only chip in New Zealand with “nacho” in your name.

61. ETA Uppercuts Sea Salt

“Says sea salt but doesn’t taste like sea salt.” This is from my partner, who pretty much only likes ready salted as a potato chip flavour and therefore did a ranking-within-a-ranking of the more than a dozen salted options. Thank you, Jenn.

60. ETA Ridgies Smoky Bacon & Cheese

Whoah smells and tastes like old Rashuns! Not sure I love them as they are but nostalgic if you miss the fried Rashuns.

59. Mexicano Sea Salt & Lime

Look, I appreciate the innovation in putting the lime from a guacamole into the chip but it’s just not enough. You get the split second of “oh fun, lime” tanginess but there’s not near enough salt and it just feels underseasoned.

58. Heartland Wave Cut Cheese & Onion

Enjoyable and you don’t have to think about the flavour too much. Perfectly middle of the pack.

57. Tostitos Rounds Chipotle & Sour Cream

A rare creamy flavour in the corn chip department. I appreciate the sentiment but think it would taste better on a potato chip. Sometimes the vehicle is the problem!

56. Pringles Sour Cream & Onion

The lesser of the classic Pringles flavours because – and don’t ask me to explain – the shape just doesn’t work with onion.

55. ETA Munchos Spicy Tomato

I know in my heart that these are not as good as they used to be but they haven’t dropped far enough to make me not enjoy them (unlike Twisties and co). It’s the ultimate chip for when you really want to make an activity out of eating a nutrition-less snack. Huge crunch, big flavour, zero sustenance. A small child’s dream.

54. Proper Crisps Big Cut Dill Pickle & Apple Cider Vinegar

This chip seems specifically created and marketed to bars. I tried it for the first time while having a lovely cold beer and it was a stunning pairing. The malt and chill of the beer perfectly balancing the tartness of the pickle and vinegar. But on its own? Chaos. Too much. Just shouting in your mouth.

53. ETA Onion Rings Sour Cream and Chives

Not bad! Kinda like the thin puffy texture and the flavour is moreish. Feels most appropriate for eating at the beach or in the car (no crumbs). However I don’t think I’d ever buy it.

52. Mexicano Tasty Salsa

I have realised something in this foolish endeavour. Chips that have just salt on them are inoffensive and fine. Chips that add a bit more zhuzh (I’m talking chives, spices, cheese) have potential to wow. But chips where the flavour is a dip? They just don’t work as well. This tastes like the afterthought of an actual lovely salsa. All it did was make me wish I could eat a cheese corn chip with a real salsa.

51. Heartland Super Thick Flats Green Onion

The vessel is top tier but green onion doesn’t quite work with it and I’m not sure why.

50. Doritos Cheese Supreme

A real American corn chip.

49. Mexicano Tasty Cheese

What if we made a classic cheese flavour but for Americans.

OK wow, I wrote all these notes in a spreadsheet and ordered by brand, then gave each flavour a score, to one decimal place, out of 10. It is complete coincidence (or my own consistency) that these ended up next to each other when I sorted by score.

48. Pringles BBQ

These used to be ranked much higher but now that every man and his dog is putting out BBQ flavours, it’s started to feel a bit generic and the novelty of the shape is not enough to save it.

47. Heartland Wave Cut Chicken

Like the Bluebird chicken flavour, parsley is a bold choice and you can taste the difference. Tasted these with a friend who said: “What I love about this chip is its not tryna be anything else – good honest spud that’s had the same 9-5 for 30 years, loves their kids & watches the ruggaz on any given weekend.”

46. Heartland Ham and Mustard Sandwich

An underdog flavour. Sounds like it would properly suck and I can imagine a lot of people hating this but it has a lovely tartness of mustard without being too strong. Not sure I’d buy it much because it’s a bit too specific but really enjoyed eating them.

45. Hooleys Waves Mild BBQ

This one threw me. On first bite, the texture was confusing and too puffy. But the flavour itself is great. Not mild – in fact had a lovely spice that made it hotter than most “hot” chips and a touch of capsicum. The flavour would work really well on a potato chip.

44-43. Kettle Chip Company Honey Soy Chicken, Copper Kettle Honey Soy Chicken

Ate these together and enjoyed the texture and crunch of Copper Kettle but the flavouring of Kettle Chip Company. Don’t know how to solve that one.

42. ETA Uppercuts Sweet Chilli Relish

I established in 2019 that sweet chilli works better on a thinner chip, whether corn or potato, and this supports that thesis. A thinner cut compared to Snackachangi’s teeth-breakage, and tastes like actual ingredients, including a slight spice kick at the end. Not bad at all.

41. Go Nutz Tasty Cheese

This is the chip for Farro/Moore Wilson’s shoppers who think it’s gauche to have a large red bag of corn chips. Mexicano ones are cheaper per chip but there’s probably the same amount of cheese taste in this small bag than in a massive Mexicano one.

40. Proper Crisps vege Garden Medley

If you love a non-potato natural chip, you’ll hate how low this is ranked. Unfortunately, my enjoyment of these packets varies wildly by individual chip because turns out I’m not a fan of parsnip.

39. Proper Crisps Tortilla Cheeza-Peno

A stunning little chip that feels quite oily but that little jalapeno kick really works hard.

38. Heartland Kettle Cooked Tokyo Tang

Once again tastes like the name but I don’t think I need wasabi on a potato chip. If you do like wasabi, boy are you gonna love these. I remember there being an ETA Uppercuts version of this flavour that was well-liked but could not find it anywhere.

37. Bluebird Chicken

Nostalgia is doing a lot of heavy lifting here but it must be said that Bluebird’s original cut is a very good chip. The chicken flavour itself is a little bit green (parsley) and does the trick.

36. Heartland Wave Cut Green Onion

A really good chip but nothing holds a candle to Bluebird classic Green Onion (wow a real Bluebird love fest happening here).

35. Copper Kettle Sea Salt & Vinegar

I like Copper Kettle chips for their texture and potato flavour and their salt and vinegar option is just strong enough to work.

34. Heartland Kettle Cooked Tasty Cheese and Red Onion

Really good fancy flavour here. Tastes like a familiar cheese and onion but more refined, which I guess is the whole point. You’re probably thinking wow Heartland features a lot and yet I barely notice them on the shelves. Yes, Heartland has more than 30 flavours but many are duplicated across different cuts.

33. Heartland Kettle Cooked Apple Cider Vinegar

Surprisingly yum. This chip is achieving what the Proper Crisps cider vinegar chip thinks it’s doing for a fraction of the buy price. A deliberately light touch on the vinegar which works because there is a light touch on the salt too, meaning you can actually taste the apple cider without burning your tongue. Really well executed.

32. Proper Crisps Onion & Green Chives

Still quite a “powdery” chip but the thickness of Proper Crisps work well here and their slightly more natural tasting flavours help bring this above other kettle varieties.

In undertaking this ranking, I have devised a chips buying guide for when you’re overwhelmed by choice and just don’t want to be disappointed. Because certain flavours work best on certain types of chips, and some brands should just stick to what they’re best at. Better living, everyone. For a high-res printable edition, click here.

31. Heartland Hot Honey Crispy Chicken

Absolutely cursed packaging (Bree and Clint from the radio, looks like a media ad) that will make you want to not go anywhere near it. But just serve it, even to yourself, in a bowl rather than in the packet. A refined chicken flavour without random sugar or sweetness piled on. The spice kicks in at the end of the bite, though not too spicy to stop eating.

30. Doritos Thai Sweet Chilli

The best Doritos flavour (unexpected for a corn chip but they’re so thin) and very nearly the best sweet chilli flavour.

29. Kettle Chip Company Sea Salt & Vinegar

A really good crisp with actually quite a light salt and vinegar flavour compared to its competitors. The subtlety allows the chip itself to shine, which is surprising given how poorly the salted version of this chip fared.

28. Heartland Wave Cut Sour Cream & Chives

Really strong flavour, in both ways. If you like sour cream and chives, particularly the chives, you’ll love this one.

27. Go Nutz Salsa

Quite good! Tastes like salsa chillies rather than tomato. Bonus points to Go Nutz for having a really nice sized chip. Triangle and easy to fit in your mouth without having to unhinge your jaw (looking at you, Mexicano).

26. Copper Kettle Smoked Chipotle & Honey

Surprisingly good. Not too sweet but definitely unique from standard BBQ or chicken. Works well with an onion dip too.

25. Proper Crisps Tortilla Salted

Makes you feel fancy and like you’re eating al fresco while on holiday with Carrie Bradshaw. The flavour itself is somewhat irrelevant as it’s the novelty of a tortilla chip that you want but the salt was fine.

24. Heartland Extreme Crunch Out Of This World Mash Up

For what is an absolute chaos concept – bacon, sour cream, salt and vinegar, just a mess – this wasn’t half bad. A little bit creamy tasting, not far off the Snackachangi prawn cocktail. Might be the only flavour that makes the extreme thick cut work.

23. Proper Crisps Marlborough Sea Salt

Probably the number one choice for anyone going to a summer BBQ that’s been asked to bring some chips. And yet, on tasting them all together it was not as good as three others. A real fall for the beloved Marlborough Sea Salt.

22. Mexicano Cheese

Really good flavour to chip ratio here and appreciate that it’s a slightly milder cheese so doesn’t taste… orange. Probably the best flavour to use when making nachos and just a good inoffensive chip.

21. Bluebird Ready Salted

Can’t be beat in the “not fancy” range of salted chips. The potatoes taste like actual potatoes which is unlike most cheaper chips.

20. Pringles Salt & Vinegar

These have really grown on me over the years. They are so salty and even more vinegary and your tongue will feel burned if you eat too many but honestly, what a way to feel alive for as little as $2.80. Hot tip: a really good popcorn substitute at the movies to pair with a 1L cup of watered down fizzy drink.

19. Delisio Sea Salt

Can you imagine buying a Bluebird thinly cut ready salted when you could buy the hugely superior Delisio Sea Salt on special for the same price, and FROM THE SAME COMPANY?

18. Delisio Sweet Chilli Relish

Delisio does do the best thin chip around and there’s no debating that. As I keep saying, sweet chilli flavours work best on a thin chip and this is the gold standard.

17. Heartland Super Thick Flats Salt & Vinegar

Massive chips! A hearty thick chip that doesn’t mess around and truly just looks like slices of large potatoes. Very dense and moreish but not to everyone’s taste. I may have been wowed by how humungous some of the slices were. But for a strong punch like salt and vinegar, a gargantuan chip works really well.

16. Copper Kettle Sea Salt

Second best salted chip, also has a really good potato taste. Turns out when you eat them all together, some potato chips taste a lot more like potatoes than others.

15. Snackachangi Killer prawn cocktail

Tastes like a Maggi cup-a-soup (tomato) and somehow some dairy? Honestly quite good and doesn’t need a dip and most importantly has no real competitors in the market.

14. Proper Crisps Kūmara

I have eaten a few chewy kūmara chips in my time so Proper managing a true, salty crunch with these is worthy of celebration. I’m surprised there aren’t more kūmara options out there but there don’t need to be because this one meets the kūmara need just fine.

13. Heartland Nearly nude

Was not expecting this to be so good but it tastes like Heartland picked their nicest potatoes knowing they couldn’t be hidden, hence nearly nude! Just got the joke as I was typing. Anyway, a genuinely light chip (it says 50% less salt) that also feels light in flavour and additions. If you can’t get into any “flavours”, this one will keep you happy.

12. Bluebird Green Onion

I lined up all the green onion flavours while I made a cheese toastie and this was the flavour that worked best as a side. A bit stronger on the tongue than “fancier” varieties but for this flavour it really works.

11. Proper Crisps Big Cut Purple Gold Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt

Here’s my theory. When Proper Crisps launched, it felt like the first “sophisticated” chip with its neutral packaging and supposed appreciation for natural flavours. But as new players (see: Snackachangi even though it’s the same goddamn company and Heartland) entered the chat, it started getting pushed out. And now, the chips that set Proper Crisps apart are, wow you guessed it, the ones that no one else makes. The massive purple chips with their salt and pepper liberally sprinkled are a prime example. Different but nice, and if you love them, there’s no competition.

10. Heartland Wave Cut Southern Salt

Pretty close to the definition of “simple done right”.

9. Bluebird Salt & Vinegar

Again, nostalgia working hard here but for good reason. The previous grand winner (wild to think about now, oops) and still a crowd pleaser.

8. Mexicano Jalapeno

The universal (in New Zealand) corn chip. That bright red packaging would be at home on any dinner table, picnic blanket or office desk. Corn chips tend to need something on them to really shine (cheese, salsa, guac) but Mexicano Jalapeno is gorgeous all on its own.

7. Pringles Original

Again I ask, what is “original”? Who cares. Whatever it is, it’s the taste of Pringles. Where others have tried to make their own “original” flavours, only Pringles has succeeded. A great travel-friendly snack option too (shout-out the Intercity bus from Whangārei to Auckland).

Also: Shout out Pringles for being the only “potato” chip company that actually has generous single serve options in their half tubes. Pringles, Grain Waves and Doritos know how to single serve. Everyone else offers either a family bag or four chips.

6. Heartland Wave Cut Maple Bacon

I have never willingly bought (or known someone who’s willingly bought) these maple bacon chips but as someone who likes a meat-flavoured chip and also likes bacon and maple syrup on pancakes, I should’ve known I’d love them. A controversial choice given the three people I tried these with all didn’t like it but I’m standing strong. If you have ever bought those pork crackling snacks, give these a go. I’m not sure it’s really a maple flavour but there is definitely a sweetness there.

Update: since writing that, I’ve bought them again and one of the people above has been converted. Heartland Maple bacon is here to stay.

5. Snackachangi Sour Cream, Chive & Onion

At one point the best chip in New Zealand. I still adore this flavour for the comfort it brought during a very stressful 2021. But unfortunately in Ordinary Times it is no longer a lifeline and instead a potentially risky flavour option for a party.

4. Copper Kettle Woodfired BBQ

Maybe it’s because this flavour was the first to combine kettle fry with BBQ flavouring but it just won’t be beat. No matter how many ways you try to reword BBQ into nicer or fancier sounding flavours, this slightly smokey, slightly tangy, all delicious first go will always win.

3. Go Nutz Mexican

This Mexican flavour has something beautiful and unique that other brands don’t offer. Couldn’t tell you what it is but it’s there. When I used to live near a Farro and would sometimes go there for cheese or something, I would “get a quick car snack” as per, except this time the small bag of chips + cold drink would cost $10. Usually that would be enough to disqualify any chip from the podium but when I actually looked, you get the same weight of chip as, for example, Proper Crisps for the same price. But they’re so dense and hearty that 150g of Go Nutz corn chips fit into a much smaller bag. Quite deceptive actually. This whole time I thought I was eating a small bag of chips on my own, not a family bag.

But I digress, congratulations Go Nutz for making the best corn chip in New Zealand.

2. Heartland Kettle Cooked Southern Sea Salt

If this were a competition for the best chip in its truest form, the Heartland Kettle Cooked Southern Sea Salt would be the runaway winner. The taste testing of the seemingly endless salted chip options was revelatory.  Turns out there’s a massive range in quality, with some surprise low scorers (Proper Crisps, Kettle Chip Company). In the end, a salted chip is only three ingredients: potato, oil, salt. And when tasted together, there’s no hiding. Many of the cheaper options had oil that tasted old. Some had strange salt. And most importantly, some potatoes just didn’t taste good.

Across the board, Heartland had the best potatoes (unsurprising given they were potato farmers first before venturing into chip manufacturing, and still grow their own potatoes). And of the cooking methods, a kettle fry worked best with salt alone. If you are after a salted chip, this is the best in New Zealand.

1. Delisio Caramelised Onion & Balsamic Vinegar

But none of the 50+ new flavours (to me) could overtake Delisio Caramelised Onion and Balsamic Vinegar. Yes I know this was included in the first chip ranking and didn’t even make the top 10 but that’s because I was a coward. I thought it was too new a flavour to be ranked any higher, let alone number one. The people would riot! Well, they rioted anyway. And seven years on, it remains an exceptional potato chip.

Even the most moderate of chip eaters will find themselves accidentally eating an entire bag because this is arguably the most moreish flavour on this list. A simple concept with just enough of a twist to set itself apart from the crowd, and one that knows exactly what it is. There’s a reason few others have tried to compete on the onion and vinegar front. Even in a bleak capitalist aisle, why bother when the perfect version already exists?

Some might say this was a popular chip 15 years ago and that I’m showing my age, and you’d be right. But how beautiful is it when tradition can be broken and new ideas stick around long enough to become old? I ate these chips a lot when I was at university in 2012, had a brief break as I went through a personal reckoning in my 20s, and am finally back appreciating what was there all along.

Delisio Caramelised Onion and Balsamic Vinegar chips are the best in New Zealand.