Today's Morning Rush is brought to you by Lauren Priestley.
Good morning and welcome to today's edition of Morning Rush. Everything you need to know - including breaking news, sport, entertainment, traffic, travel and weather. Share your news tips and photos at #MorningRushNZ or morningrush@nzme.co.nz
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9.00am: And that's a wrap for this morning, folks. Thanks for joining me on Morning Rush and I'll see you from 6am tomorrow.
8.58am: The All Blacks are gearing up for their first RWC match against Argentina - and they've been quick to say the opponents are a threat. Here's the coaches' thoughts about the big game ahead.
8.55am: Pretty nice day out there for Aucklanders - you're looking at a high of 14C with sun and cloudy periods - and Wellington is stepping it up with a fine day and a high of 15C. Enjoy!
8.52am: Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women, and scientists say diet can help cut the numbers down. Vegetables, leafy greens, tomatoes and sage are on the good list - while too much sugar, processed meats and red meat should be eaten less. Here's the full list.
8.48am: And the flag debate continues. With the groundswell of Red Peak supporters, Act Leader David Seymour is asking John Key to postpone the first referendum until after Christmas.
What are your thoughts?
8.45am: Before we wrap up for the morning, here are the stories we will be following on nzherald.co.nz:
Reaction from NZ leaders as Malcolm Turnbull starts his new job as Australian Prime Minister.
Firefighters bringing a huge forest fire south of Dunedin under control.
Police investigating the incident where a professor was shot dead at a Mississippi university campus this morning.
And all your latest in breaking news as the day progresses.
8.41am: Can't get enough of Ko? Our editorial today is worth a read, stating her latest triumph puts her amongst the greats of the game.
8.38am: Motorists should expect minor delays near Kauri, north of Whangarei, where a short detour is in place due to State Highway 1 being closed for roadworks.
8.35am: Bit of traffic around the Basin Reserve this morning:
8.28am: Are you obsessed with coffee? Find out why it needs to be stopped here.
8.25am: Two protesters were arrested after baring their breasts at a controversial conference near Paris on the role of Muslim women. Here's the full story.
8.17am: An overhead projector, false teeth and bullets have been found in blocked toilet drains in NZ over the years. And it's been a particularly bad week for the Western Bay of Plenty sewerage system.
8.14am: Want three children? Then you should start by the age of 23, scientists say.
8.10am: An online costume shop has been accused of leaving a trail of angry, dressed-down customers after failing to deliver outfits.
The Commerce Commission is investigating thecostumeshop.co.nz - after more than 30 customers reported paying for items but never receiving them.
8.07am: New Zealand will open an embassy in Colombia, Newstalk ZB has reported. Foreign minister Murray McCully is making the announcement at meeting of trade leaders in Auckland this morning - stating Colombia is an increasingly important partner for NZ.
8.05am: Auckland Transport is negotiating with four parties on the last remaining properties standing in the way of its $2.5 billion City Rail Link. Here's the latest.
8.02am: Here's the latest drive times from Wellington:
8.00am: New Zealander Michael Campbell says Lydia Ko rise to glory is "like Tiger Woods stuff". Campbell, who won the 2005 US Open, is in awe of 18-year-old Ko, describing her achievements as "phenomenal."
7.57am: Several Auckland motorists were spotted yesterday using their mobile phones behind the wheel, despite a nationwide campaign cracking down on distracted driving.
7.53am: Another brill cartoon from Rod Emmerson today - check it out:
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7.49am: A crash on the Northwestern, near the Te Atatu onramp, is clear but has created some congestion. Expect delays.
7.47am: Goat parkour, potholes and typos are providing a few laughs in today's Sideswipe.
7.44am: Malcolm Turnbull has won the party ballot challenging Tony Abbott's leadership - but who is the man who will become Australia's fourth Prime Minister in two years?
7.40am: Voting is underway in Hawke's Bay over a proposed merger of territories - and it's expected to come down to the wire.
Five years of campaigning has led to a simple "for" or "against" vote, with the ballot boxes closing at noon.
7.36am: Sir Graham Henry says this World Cup could be the "least clear-cut of them all". World rankings and being the favourite team counts for nothing, he said.
This tournament looks the least clear-cut of them all. It will be about gaining momentum: form and history will not count for anything once play starts.
7.33am: Thousands have been displaced and one killed in a raging wildfire in Northern California, the LA Times reported.
7.30am: Former MasterChef contestant Victoria Molly Koszegi is in hot water after allegedly being caught more than five times over the drink-drive limit.
Here's the story.
7.28am: Police in Hungary have formed a line across railway tracks in an attempt to close off the passage north for thousands of refugees, Newstalk ZB reports. The country has been a choke-point for tens of thousands whisked through Greece, Macedonia and Serbia.
7.25am: Enjoy the commute this morning, Aucklanders! Not looking too shabby at all.
7.22am: Looking pretty mild out there this morning. The current low is in Hastings at just over 2C, while Timaru is seeing the high of 16.6C.
7.18am: The race for the top job at the UN is set to be opened up - with greater transparency being introduced to the Secretary-General selection process. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark is almost always mentioned as a potential candidate to replace Ban Ki-moon - but she hasn't declared whether she will run yet.
7.14am: A professor has been shot dead at Delta State University in Mississippi this morning (NZT). County Deputy Coroner Murray Roark said history professor Ethan Schmidt was killed inside an office. It was not immediately clear if anyone else was wounded. Here's the latest.
7.10am: Congestion is easing in Auckland as the Southern break-down near Ellerslie clears.
7.08am: Traffic is a bit more backed up in Wellington this morning - but it looks like a nice day!
7.05am: NZ Post is pulling out of six-day rural delivery in parts of Otago and Southland - including Dunedin, Middlemarch, Brighton, Waikouaiti, Port Chalmers, Palmerston, Oamaru, Lawrence, Waitati, Invercargill.
7.02am: Former Shortland Street and Hobbit star Manu Bennett is facing a year in US county jail after he was arrested and charged with assault in Texas. Here's the latest.
6.58am: Are you backing black this year? Here's the latest on the All Blacks build up to the World Cup - and the team is walking towards the pressure.
6.54am: Bit of traffic build up for commuters in Auckland, after a breakdown on the Southern Motorway near Ellerslie.
6.51am: Arnie Schwarzenegger will attempt to fill Donald Trump's shoes in The Celebrity Apprentice. What are your thoughts?
6.47am: Police are on the hunt for a "skinny" robber who punched a man multiple times and stole his wallet at a Christchurch bus stop overnight. The incident occurred on Main North Rd, Papanui, about 10pm.
6.40am: Auckland University is still #1 in New Zealand - and it's increasing its lead globally. Here's how we rank worldwide.
6.37am: The parents of young forestry worker Lincoln Kidd who was killed when a tree fell on him are calling for an overhaul in the way workplace incidents are investigated. Here's the exclusive.
6.33am: Easy drive in the capital so far, it seems. Send in any traffic tips to morningrush@nzme.co.nz
6.29am: How does Ko do it? Lydia Ko became the youngest woman to win a major championship yesterday - just the latest in her string of "youngest ever" records.
6.25am: Moderate winds are fanning the flames of a large forest fire in Otago. Firefighters were called to the small village of Waipori Falls, south of Dunedin, about 1.15am. The blaze is about 1km long but no homes are under threat.
6.21am: John Key is "confident" NZ will continue a close relationship with Australia, in light of the Prime Minister change. Here's Audrey Young's opinion piece about the shift.
I am confident our close and critical relationship with Australia will continue unchecked with the change of Prime Minister.
6.17am: One of the first people to reach the scene of the fatal Muriwai crash yesterday told the Herald about the frantic effort to save the men. Read the full story here.
6.14am: American university Delta State is in lockdown after a professor was shot dead. The active shooter was spotted on campus about 4am (NZT). Police are on the scene.
6.10am: Expect a balmy day out there for most of the country - with some spots in the South Island getting up to more than 20C!
6.07am: Firefighters are battling an out-of-control forest fire south of Dunedin this morning - we'll have more for you here as the updates come in.
6.03am: Big news today is coming out of Australia - where Malcom Turnbull has become the country's fourth Prime Minister in two years. Here's the latest.
6.01am: Morning all! Lauren here, stay with me for all the latest news this morning.