Key Points:

More than 80 chip shops are in the running to be the best in their field.

The That's Life! Best Chip Shop Competition is on the hunt for the healthiest, tastiest and crispiest chips in the country and has released its list of regional finalists from a list of more than 400 chippies.

Competition spokeswoman Glenda Gourley says public text voting initially determined the top 20 shops in each of the six competing regions around the country and the top shops were then visited by mystery judges.

A chip sample for each shop was sent away for fat analysis and only those obtaining a fat level of less than 11 per cent made the grade.

Other factors to come under the judges' scrutiny were chip freshness and colour, shop cleanliness and customer service.

Heart Foundation nutritionist, Judith Morley-John says work has been taking place to lower the fat content of New Zealand's favourite takeaway for a decade.

"If chip shops follow the industry Standards, shops can reduce the fat in chips by as much as 20 per cent.

"The standards include: using thick, straight-cut chips, which absorb less fat than crinkle-cuts or shoestrings; cooking at 175 -180and, draining the cooked chips correctly commonly referred to as the shake, bang and hang method."

Ms Morley-John says the average fat content of the the chips being offered by the regional finalists this year decreased to 8.38 per cent compared with last year's average of 8.87 per cent.

The best chip shop winner will be announced on November 14.

Regional Finalists
Northland to North Shore Region: Kippers 292 Main Highway, Orewa; Stumpys Takeaways 121 Riverside Drive, Whangarei; Mangawhai Blue Marlin Takeaways Shop 3, Moir Street, Mangawhai; Ripples Caf on the Marina 621 Laurie Southwick Parade, Whangaparaoa; Twilight Zone Paihia Marsden Road Traders Mall, Paihia; Northcross Takeaway 4/178 Carlisle Road, Northcross; Ivans Takeaways 575 Glenfield Road, Glenfield; Oceanz Albany 50 Greville Road, Albany; The Codfather 84 Hinemoa Street, Birkenhead; Grand Takeaway 4/70 Grand Drive, Orewa; Adriatic Takeaway 91 Kamo Road, Whangarei; Fresh & Tasty Takeaways Water Front Drive, Mangonui; Otaika Takeaways Otaika Shopping Centre, Whangarei; Calypso Takeaways 98 Kerikeri Road, Kerikeri; Fishy Business 71A Lake Road, Devonport.

Auckand Region: The Chip Shop 711 Manukau Road, Royal Oak; Ren Sun Takeaways 2/5 Harris Road, Mt Wellington; Oceanz Seafood Markets 451 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs; Westgate Takeaways 579 Don Buck Road, Massey; Pizza Lovers 262b Blockhouse Bay Road, Blockhouse Bay; Diamond Takeaways 166 Great South Road, Remuera; Meadowbank Takeaway 121 Meadowbank Road, Meadowbank; Suzys Quality Fish and Chips 40/30 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe; Fish King 10 Moore Street, Howick; Fush Glen Eden 4 Glendale Road, Glen Eden; White Horse Takeaway 543 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden; Garrison Takeaways 118a Old Wairoa Road, Papakura; B&F Halsey Road Takeaways 44b Halsey Road, Manurewa; Toby Seafoods Massey Shop 4, 2 Triangle Road, Massey; Oneroa Fish & Chips 39 Waikare Road, Oneroa.

Waikato to Hawkes Bay Region: The Frying Dutchman Main Rd, Hastings District; Chish & Fips 33 Gloucester Street, Napier; Oppies Fish & Chips 259 Fenton Street, Rotorua; Seafood on the Beach 43 Ocean View Parade, New Plymouth; Welcome Bay Takeaway Shop 11, 248 Welcome Bay Road, Tauranga; KB Chips 701 Port Road, Whangamata; Showgrounds Takeaways 797 Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton; LA Palomas Takeaway 319 Pollen Street, Thames; Georges Fisheries 40 Victoria Avenue, Wanganui; Gate Pa Fish'n'Chips 969 Cameron Road, Tauranga; KY Fast Foods 163 Taharepa Road, Taupo; Sheffs Takeaway 714 Grey Street, Rotorua; Mas Kitchen & Takeaway 4/155 Hazelmere Crescent, Te Awamutu; Hawkes Bay Seafoods Cnr Pandjra Road and West Quay, Hawkes Bay; Silverdale Takeaway Silverdale Road, Hamilton.

Manawatu to Wellington Region: So Fine Foods 2 Tennyson Ave, Lower Hutt; Wellington Trawlink 220 Cuba Street, Wellington; Fish 308 Queen Street, Masterton; Fish Spot 47 Vogel St, Manawatu-Wanganui; Fish King 26 East Street, Feilding; Annie's Fastfood 166 Featherston Street, Palmerston North; Mac's Fresh Fish & Chips 41 Queen Street, Masterton; Raumati Fish supply 344 Rosetta Road, Wellington; Maclean Street Fish Supply 6 Maclean Street, Paraparaumu; Fishtown Takeaways 392 Ferguson Street, Palmerston North; Tokomaru Store & Takeaways 2 Tokomaru Road, Tokomaru; Andrew St Takeaway Crn Andrew & North St, Feilding; Blue Island Seafood 131 Randwick Road, Lower Hutt; Ocean Blue Seafoods 812 High Street, Lower Hutt; Phat Fries 712 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt.

Nelson to Christchurch Region: The Funky Fish 1 Moran Street, Blenheim; Lyttelton Fisheries 38 London Street, Lyttelton; Victoria Seafood Bar & Pizza 96 Victoria Street, Rangiora; Captain Mikes Ltd 4b Conical Hill Road, North Canterbury; Waikuku Beach General Store 54 Park Terrace, Rangiora; Darfield Takeaways 53b South Terrace, Canterbury; The Akaroa Fish & Chips Shop 59 Beach Road, Akaroa; Cossar Street Takeaways Ltd 1a Cossar Street, Christchurch; Cashmere Seafood 4a Cashmere Road, Christchurch; Hokitika Seafood Centre 12 Revell Street, Hokitika; Creek Road Food Bar 53 Creek Road, Ashburton; Haven Fish & Chips 268 Wakefield Quay, Nelson; Four Js Takeaway 406 Main South Road; Paroa Bay Takeaway 46a Commercial Street, Takaka; Renwick Takeaways 70 High Street, Renwick.

Timaru to Southland Region: Mornington Takeaway 3 Mailer Street,Dunedin; Waihola Fresh Fish Main Rd, Waihola; Willowbank Takeaway 995 George Street, Dunedin; Choies 118 Gordon Rd, Mosgiel; Glenwood Takeaways 274 Wai-iti Road, Timaru; Herbert St Takeaway 122 Herbert St, Timaru; B G's Dairy & Takeaway 386 Thames Hwy, Omaru; New Mosgiel Fish Supply 413 Factory Rd, Mosgiel; Surry Park Takeaways 2006 404 Yarrow Street, Invercargill; Turning Tides 836 Brigton Road, Dunedin; Lee's Burger Bar 6B Factory Rd, Mosgiel; Jollys Road Foodcentre Jollys Road, Cromwell; Aggy shack Cnr Church Lane and Marine Parade, Queenstown; Otipua Takeways 110 Otipua Road, Timaru; Oscar's 87 Centennial Ave.

- NEWSTALK ZB