A shortage of New Zealand kumara from Kaipara has forced Nelson chip company Proper Crisps to temporarily switch to sweet potato from Australia. 

It had already opened a sweet potato factory in Yarra Valley in Victoria last year to meet demand across the ditch. 

Kaipara Kumara managing director Anthony Blundell told Mike Hosking that it's not a major blow to either party. 

He says that variety of sweet potato isn't too dissimilar to the kumara they grow, so switching to Australia is the best option. 

Kumara in some supermarkets at the moment are around $13 a kilo. 

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