Morning Rush
Today's Morning Rush is brought to you by Sophie Ryan.
Good morning and welcome to today's edition of Morning Rush. Everything you need to know, including the latest, breaking news, sport, entertainment, traffic, travel and weather information. Share your news tips and photos at #MorningRushNZ or morningrush@nzme.co.nz
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9.00am: That's all for today's edition of Morning Rush. Thanks for joining me this morning, have a great Wednesday. The blog will be back up and running from 6am tomorrow.
8.55am: Keep an eye on the forecast if you're in western parts of New Zealand as heavy rain is forecast to fall. The chance of some thunderstorms in Auckland this afternoon increases with every hour. Keep an eye on our website where we will have updates on the weather situation as it changes.
8.51am: Marissa Mayer will write another chapter in her playbook for parenting in the C-suite, and possibly beyond, when she gives birth to identical twins in December. Yahoo's chief executive officer announced her pregnancy in a blog post and said she doesn't expect the girls' arrival to slow her down, with reports saying she plans to take two weeks' maternity leave. Find out more here.
8.45am: The New Zealand dollar fell after weak Chinese factory data yesterday raised concerns about a slowdown in Asia's largest economy. The kiwi dropped to 63.31 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 63.74 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index slipped to 68.70 from 68.91 yesterday.
8.39am:
A French tourist has appealed for help to find an Australian man she fell pregnant to. Watch the video and
8.32am: Hilary Clinton's leaked emails reveal she had sensitive information from Tony Blair and UK officials on her personal email. Find out more about the leaked emails, including how Mrs Clinton has her tea, here.
8.25am: In other design news, Tokyo Olympic organisers have decided to scrap the logo for the 2020 Games following another allegation its Japanese designer might have used copied materials. Read more here.
8.20am: Here's one the final four flag designs appearing on plastic plates.
Yeah, something isn't right. Found this the other day. #NZflag pic.twitter.com/3Z9twOe9at
— Thomas Le Bas (@thomaslebas) September 1, 2015
8.15am: An 80-year-old accountant who owes Inland Revenue around $500 million wants the High Court to approve his proposal to pay $1000 a week off the debt. If John George Russell's bid fails, it places him one step closer to bankruptcy, which the tax department appears intent on pursuing.
8.10am: In the UK it's #BackToHogwarts day and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is leading the enthusiasm for the day her book characters would return to their school of witchcraft and wizardry.
First, she announced that James Sirius Potter, the son of Harry and Ginny, would be attending Hogwarts for the first time today.
I'm in Edinburgh, so could somebody at King's Cross wish James S Potter good luck for me? He's starting at Hogwarts today. #BackToHogwarts
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2015
Then she announced little James had been sorted into Gryffindor, the same house as his parents.
Have just heard that James S Potter has been Sorted (to nobody's surprise) into Gryffindor. Teddy Lupin (Head Boy, Hufflepuff) disappointed.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2015
One person at Kings Cross station tweeted this picture of the departures board. How cool!
OMG thats at the kings cross station 😍 #BackToHogwarts pic.twitter.com/saUckJRfRt
— † (@RecklessKissing) September 1, 2015
8.05am:
"We were basically subjected to something that was quite pornographic and it just made me feel sick, and wrong," says one member of the audience of Pretty Ricky's concert in Christchurch.
8.02am:
Hundreds of migrants gathered outside Budapest's Keleti train station Tuesday morning after police stopped them from entering the station and boarding trains bound for Germany.
7.58am: What do you think of Rod Emmerson's cartoon on the flag debate in today's Herald?
Focus on the flag, kiwis - my cartoon in today's @nzherald pic.twitter.com/vv5iw7Rws4
— Rod Emmerson (@rodemmerson) September 1, 2015
7.52am: Ben Smith says he spent his first years as an All Black convinced he didn't deserve to be a test footballer. Read how the brilliant back says self-doubt held him back.
7.48am: Looks like a beautiful morning to be waking up to in the capital today!
Crepuscular rays, low level cumulus, high cirrus and two waterfront giraffes for Wellington this morning ^TA pic.twitter.com/W2bpBppqQG
— MetService (@MetService) September 1, 2015
7.35am: Auckland motorists, take care on Symonds St and Grafton Rd because traffic lights are out this morning.
Traffic lights are out at the intersection on Symonds St and Grafton Rd. Please take extra care and follow the give-way rules. ^LC
— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) September 1, 2015
7.29am: If you're in Westland, be prepared for a period of heavy rain today. MetService says 120mm could accumulate about the ranges in a 12 hour period.
7.25am:
Feeling like a bit of a thrill this morning? Check out this video of a windsurfer riding Tasmania's deadliest wave.
7.21am:
An African migrant has been caught trying to smuggle himself into Spain while crammed into a tiny space behind a car's engine, in the latest desperate ploy to enter the EU.
Read more about the migrant crisis in Europe here.
7.18am: Having the "booze talk" with kids before they take their first sip of alcohol is crucial, according to a report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It's a big topic in New Zealand, too. Have a read here.
7.14am: In other sport news this morning, the Kiwi men's rowing four have missed out on a chance to qualify for the Rio Olympics after finishing fourth in their repechage at the Rowing World Championships in Aiguebelette, France overnight.
Read more about their finish here.
7.10am:
Marina Erakovic is out of the US Open this morning.
Erakovic will be wanting to forget about her 2015 grand slam season fairly quickly after suffering her fourth straight opening round defeat today, after having to withdraw midway through her first ever apperance on centre court at the US Open.
7.06am: A cartoon by the great Rod Emmerson on the midwife pay debate.
Those new notes - my pocket cartoon today in the @nzherald @NZmidwives @MidwivesRCM @world_midwives @WeMidwives pic.twitter.com/63yYSThvwh
— Rod Emmerson (@rodemmerson) September 1, 2015
7.02am: Michelle Carter knew that if anyone found her text messages to her boyfriend Conrad Roy, she might go to jail. Why? because those texts encouraged her friend to kill himself.
6.59am: It's a windy morning in Wellington. There's strong wind gusts across the capital region, and NZTA has issued a warning for people travelling on State Highway 2 Rimutaka Hill Rd.
A strong wind warning is in place for SH2 Rimutaka Hill. Take extra care, especially if you're in a high-sided vehicle or on a motorbike ^NA
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) September 1, 2015
6.56am: Aucklanders be wary there could be heavy and thundery falls this afternoon. The weather continues to be wet and patchy tomorrow and Friday ahead of a storm brewing to move across the city on the weekend.
#Auckland today, showers, some heavy with thunder this afternoon. http://t.co/2Dr9he56oe ^CL pic.twitter.com/lwClEzSDFv
— MetService (@MetService) September 1, 2015
6.50am: A multimillion-dollar divorce wrangle between a sawmill magnate and his former wife has made its way to the Supreme Court. Mark Clayton says none of the trust assets are relationship property and that his former wife, Melanie Clayton, is entitled only to their $850,000 matrimonial home and $30,000. The case continues today, so catch up on what happened yesterday before the updates arrive today.
6.46am: It's a settled morning ahead of a wet and windy day for the west of the country. The warmest place to be this morning is New Plymouth, where it is currently 13.8C. The coldest spot this morning is Wanaka, where it is 1.8C.
6.42am: Kiwi songstress Brooke Fraser has gone under the knife to repair damage inflicted when she was cutting an avocado. But she says the wound won't stop her playing music.
6.38am: Two state jails have worse assault rates than the controversial privately-run Mt Eden prison.
Radio New Zealand reported today that the worst overall assault rate in the year to June was at Christchurch Women's prison, with 37 assaults per 100 prisoners. Hawke's Bay Regional prison was next with a rate of 23.5 assaults. Mt Eden prison, which has come under the spotlight following revelations of fight clubs and violent attacks on inmates, came in third with a rate of 22.9.
6.34am: A police patrol car has crashed into a lamp post in Hamilton.
Police said the collision happened about 9pm last night on Massey St, Dinsdale.
The driver, the car's only occupant, was not injured.
6.30am: The All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup had their first training session yesterday. Find out why it was notable for an improvement in focus and quality here.
6.27am:
This is a great story about how young people leaving Child Youth and Family care at age 17 can get some support as they set up their first homes.
Read more and find out how you can help the "flat-packs" here.
6.24am: Karl Puschmann's opinion piece on the four final flag designs is worth a read if you missed it yesterday.
Well, it's safe to say we blew it. Looking at the uninspiring final four designs unveiled this morning it's tempting just to flag the whole flag changing thing and move on.
6.20am: A chef deemed "too fat" for New Zealand has launched a fresh appeal to stay in the country, claiming that star All Blacks would also fail tough immigration obesity rules. Read more about why South African immigrant Albert Buitenhuis, 52, faces deportation.
6.17am: In case you missed last night's Big Read, it's an incredible survival story. A woman survived 9 days in Sierra Nevadas without food by crawling for two days on a badly broken leg to reach a creek where she could drink water.
6.14am: Good news for farmers. The dairy prices has risen for the second time in a row at a Global Dairy Trade auction. Read more here.
6.11am: Here's a look at what the weather is doing around the country today.
Good morning! More rain spreading across the North Island. Rain west coast S. Island. http://t.co/oKYtro2Yts ^CL pic.twitter.com/pdJBSPQm6D
— MetService (@MetService) September 1, 2015
6.09am:
Google has a new logo.
6.06am: Yesterday all anyone could talk about was the four final flag designs being announced. If you had a look and thought they were no good, you weren't alone. There's a plot to derail the flag referendum.
6.03am: There was a bit of fog over the city this morning as I traveled in to the CBD from the North Shore. We will keep an eye on whether any fog restrictions are put in place at the Auckland Airport.
6.01am: Good morning everyone, thanks for joining me on this Wednesday morning.
Inflation is the top issue for Kiwis and they think Labour is best to keep prices down.