Tauranga Intermediate's Cole Anderson is on his way to becoming a future inventor, after his innovative idea was recognised at the ASB Bright Sparks awards in Auckland last week.

His invention, ‘Speed Wyz II', won the ASB Bright Sparks Environmental Junior Award.

Speed Wyz II is a speed limit road sign that changes according to different weather conditions, helping people to drive safer.

He tried something similar last year – the Speed Wyz I – but found the design it was limited by its simplicity.

'Last year's one was pretty simple because it was just electronics,” says Cole.

'It only had two speeds that changed with LED lights.”

His improvements this year included the addition of computer programming and a temperature gauge, providing more options in terms of speed limits and weather conditions to respond to.

'There's one like it on the Kaimais,” he says, 'but it has to be changed manually, by people. Mine is automatic.”

Naturally, he's hoping to pursue a career in engineering or a similar field.

Cole also has a few ideas for future inventions, including a windscreen that repels water (thus negating the need for windscreen wipers). He admits there a similar things around already, but he thinks he can make them better.

As for the rest of his ideas – well, he's keeping them close to his chest.