Cole Anderson, 11, won the Best Junior Environment category of the awards for his Speed Wyz gadget - a weather-activated device which could change the speed limit displayed for motorists according to the amount of rain falling or fog around.
The Tauranga Intermediate School pupil said yesterday afternoon he would be "pretty happy" if he won.
"I like putting electronic wiring together. It's just fun, and I like the challenge to make it go, especially the buzz when it works."
Cole said he was excited when he first realised he was a finalist in the awards because "we didn't even know there was a national thing".
In September, Cole won the Niwa Premier Award at the 2015 Bay of Plenty Science Fair.
A few drops of rain on a sensor on the Speed Wyz lowers the speed on a display board from 80km/h to 60km/h.
Cole said he would like to see his invention being used on rural roads, as it would not require an electronic connection to operate.
Stephen Waters, general manger of strategic engagement at The Skills Organisation, which founded the awards in 2000, said the competition was a true celebration of competitors' inventiveness.
"The awards give bright young Kiwis a platform to show their ingenuity and emerge as future leaders in the New Zealand electrotechnology industry," he said.
Entrants walked away with a combined prize pool worth $10,000 and unrivalled exposure in the technology industry as young and upcoming engineers, programmers and electricians.
The Skills Organisation manager of Skills Choice, Ross Petersen, said Bright Sparks was a true celebration of inventiveness across the hi-tech field.
"This year we've received over 70 entries which is an increase of more than 50 per cent from previous years," Mr Petersen said.
