Erik's Fish & Chips is once again offering a deal to encourage children to read more books: offering a free kids’ meal at Eriks’ for every five chapter books a child reads.

First run in 2019 with Wanaka Primary School and extended to all local primary schools via online entries when lockdown began, the current challenge has been extended to the end of October because it has been so popular.

Erik’s co-owner Ann Arndt said the initiative had been well supported and “students are loving their free kids meals”.

Anna was inspired to start the initiative when she had a young boy visit her who read and read - it turned out he was working his way through so many books because he would receive a free pizza after reading a certain number of chapter books.

“...I personally had a son who struggled when learning to read and consequently it was very hard to get him to read anything more than comics,” Anna said. “He loved and still loves food so this would have worked a treat for him.” 

Now Erik’s has upped the stakes: there is a school prize for the school which has read the most books. The winning school will receive a free meal for all staff from Erik’s and $500 worth of books from Gecko Press.

Erik’s Fish and Chips operates in Wanaka and Queenstown.

Among other prizes added to the competition is one to promote tourism: “If we can encourage students to read, we could also use the concept to encourage domestic tourism into the Central Lakes area,” she said.

Erik’s has teamed up with Best Cafe in Dunedin so students receive a free meal at Best Café and Eriks when they read five chapter books. Dunedin students then automatically go into the draw to win one of six two-night stays for their family in Wanaka or Queenstown. 

Meanwhile, when Wanaka students complete five chapter books and enter online they will go in the draw for a two-night trip to Dunedin.The package includes accommodation at the Bella Vista Motel, a meal at Best Café, and a visit to Otago Museum and the Ocho Chocolate Factory. 

The prizes will be drawn at the end of August, September and October “so it’s a great time for Wanaka primary school students to start reading,” Anna said. 

There are more prizes too: Find more details about the initiative here.

PHOTOS: Supplied