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 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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8.53am: And that's us for this morning. We're wrapping up a little bit early but will be back with Morning Rush at 6am tomorrow. Thanks for joining me.
8.51am: Here's a story to leave you with that's being going great guns this morning - Jarryd Hayne's NFL advice on how to overcome a rookie mistake in front of millions. Check it out.
8.47am: Before we wrap up for the day, here's the stories we will be following:
The tank explosion that killed one man in South Auckland - A post-mortem is expected to be completed today and we'll have the latest updates as they come in.
More rugby madness as the World Cup edges closer - we'll have what it means for the All Blacks and the teams we're up against.
And we'll have the latest in breaking news, all on nzherald.co.nz
8.44am: What's the magic number of children for happiness? A study has revealed some interesting results - here's the story.
8.40am: Pretty clear day in the capital - enjoy the commute!
8:30am ETAs: Melling-CBD 30min; Tawa-CBD 31min; Cobham Drive-CBD 18min #UrbanInterchange ^MC pic.twitter.com/Em3mwnNlGa
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) September 15, 2015
8.36am: In a move which suggests that World Cup organisers have a sense of humour, France has been assigned a hotel in the modest London borough of Croydon - and they're not too happy.
8.33am: Expect a mixed day in Auckland today - cloudy periods and showers with a high of 14C. A bit clearer in Wellington today with clouds and a high of 14C as well.
8.29am: Elton John claims Vladimir Putin phoned him after the musician requested a meeting to discuss Russia's anti-gay environment - but Putin's spokesman has denied the report.
Here's the story.
8.25am: A man who spilled more than 12,000 litres of beer in Wanaka committed a "crime of passion", the Queenstown District Court heard yesterday.
Kenneth William Super, 53, was charged with burglary of Wanaka Beerworks on November 4, 2014 as well as possession of the class C-controlled drug cannabis and cultivation of cannabis the following day.
8.22am: The Southern motorway crash in Auckland is clear, but motorists should expect delays.
Update: The #crash near Mt Wellington citybound on the Sthn Mwy is now CLEAR. Please #DriveSafe as congestion eases ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) September 15, 2015
8.18am: Thoughts about the Tony Abbott/Malcolm Turnbull saga? Our editorial tells you why you should pity the Australians.
8.15am: Wall Street and the greenback rose overnight, while US Treasuries declined. Here's the latest.
8.12am: What are your thoughts about the haka? An English coach says it definitely works - giving the All Blacks an edge and bonding the team into a tight unit.
8.08am: A morning blessing was held in Waterview for the new shared path - check out the pics here:
Morena! Blessing for the new Waterview Shared Path, 2.4kms from Waterview to New North Road. #Gamechanger #BoostAKLD pic.twitter.com/JwdxR3Zwac
— Waterview Connection (@WCnow) September 15, 2015
8.04am: Besties Lorde and Taylor Swift are both up for prizes at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2015.
8.00am: Did you see the video of Kiwi soul singer Tangaroa Te Tai - still wearing his work boots and safety vest - wowing X Factor Australia judges?
You don't want to miss it. Check it out here.
7.56am: The latest from the university campus shooting in Mississippi: A 20-year-old New Zealand student has spoken of the terror she felt in a barricaded classroom at Delta State while a history professor was shot dead.
Here's the exclusive.
7.53am: A crash is blocking the right citybound lane on the Southern Motorway near Mt Wellington - merge left with care.
7.52am: Former New Zealand cricketing great Chris Cairns is preparing for his UK trial on Oct 5 - and it looks likely he will face a civil claim if he is acquitted of perjury.
7.48am: High winds have eased off across SH1 Milton to Balclutha but are still sweeping SH87 in parts - drivers should take care.
High winds across SH87 Middlemarch to Kyeburn - take extra care, especially high sided vehicles and motorcycles. ^TF
— Waka Kotahi Otago & Southland (@WakaKotahiOS) September 15, 2015
7.45am: French magazine Charlie Hebdo is facing legal action after publishing a series of cartoons mocking the death of Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi.
7.42am: Drive times have eased off after a bit of congestion in Wellington - while in Auckland commuters are looking at a 45 minute drive from Oteha to the city.
7:30am ETAs: Melling-CBD 28min; Tawa-CBD 28min; Cobham Drive-CBD 9min #Dowse ^MC pic.twitter.com/9ld7ccNlc1
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) September 15, 2015
7.38am: A Chinese firm has emerged as a contender for a half stake in Dunedin-based Silver Fern Farms by offering to invest $261 million in the company. Here's the story.
7.34am: The "bromance" between John Key and Malcolm Turnbull is the subject of Rod Emmerson's cartoon today - with a little Red Peak shout-out thrown in.
The blessing of @TurnbullMalcolm - my cartoon in today's @nzherald #JohnKey #RedPeak pic.twitter.com/Qui1431MXy
— Rod Emmerson (@rodemmerson) September 15, 2015
7.30am: Police suspect gangs are "running" groups of Christchurch's windscreen washers and using the money they make to buy drugs and alcohol, Newstalk ZB reports. They're asking for the council to give them authority to seize equipment.
7.26am: Need to brighten up your Wednesday? This vid of a Brazilian toddler distracting her father from cutting her toenails has gone viral.
Check out the video from Marcelinha Dos Santos Iwama here:
7.22am: Looking pretty free-flowing in the capital. Drive times: 22mins from Melling - CBD; 20mins from Tawa-CBD; 10mins from Cobham Drive-CBD.
7.18am: Do you work out with your workmates? Lee Suckling writes about the benefits of exercising during work time - and why it can work for the business too.
7.15am: A woman has been convicted of impersonating a man over two years to dupe her friend into having sex.
Here's the story.
7.13am: All Black Ma'a Nonu says he isn't "thinking past lunchtime" in terms of the World Cup - a stark contrast to the All Blacks' English rivals.
7.10am: French authorities are searching the Indian Ocean for apparent debris spotted by a jet pilot near where a wing part from the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 was discovered. Here's the story.
7.04am: Delays on the Northern motorway this morning after a citybound crash near the Constellation onramp in Auckland.
A #crash citybound on Nthn Mwy near Constellation onramp is clear of both lanes but may cause #delays. Vehicles to be removed soon ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) September 15, 2015
7.01am: A flash flood in Utah has killed at least eight and left others missing, CNN reports.
6.57am: News for Christchurch drivers this morning. Traffic signals are now operational at the intersection of Main Rd and Bridle Path Rd alongside the Ferrymead Bridge - drive with care.
6.54am: Historical Wesley College is moving over for a new town to be built. Read about the rezoning of the South Auckland land here.
6.50am: A professor at Delta State University who was a suspect in the fatal shooting on campus this week has been found dead, the NY Times reports. Another professor, Dr Ethan Schmidt, was shot dead in his office.
6.47am: The safety of driving on the beach has been thrust into the spotlight after the death of four men in a crash on Muriwai Beach on Sunday. What are your thoughts? Here's today's big read.
6.43am: An inner-city Auckland school has been let off a $90 permit fee for using a public park for its end-of-year picnic.
Pt Chevalier School appealed against a permit fee for booking a local park which it has used free for the last nine years.
6.40am: A new approach has been introduced to analyse how social spending could be done better - by screening youngsters under the age of 17 throughout the country.
Read more about the initiative here.
6.37am: What's your morning commute looking like? We've got no reports of any accidents or breakdown hampering traffic in the main cities so far. Here's the latest drive times for Wellington:
Good Morning! 6:30am ETAs: Melling-CBD 17min; Tawa-CBD 16min; Cobham Drive-CBD 9min #TerraceTunnel ^MC pic.twitter.com/DAp5ZwAbcA
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) September 15, 2015
6.35am: It has been announced there is no "Plan B" for the 2019 Rugby World Cup - it's heading for Japan. Read the latest here.
6.31am: Big fan of the festive season? It's only 100 days to go until Christmas this year. Time to deck the halls? Falalalalalalala.
PSA: Today marks only 1⃣0⃣0⃣ more days until Christmas 😍🎄🎉 pic.twitter.com/Iq2FrIWaNW
— Spire & Co (@spireandco) September 15, 2015
6.28am: Max Key has joined a team of graduates helping young Kiwis gain entrance into institutions like Cambridge, Oxford and Harvard - find out what he's up to here.
6.24am: Pretty warm out there for most this morning - with Dunedin currently hitting the country's high of a whopping 15.9C! The coldest spot isn't too shabby either - Hastings at 4.5C.
6.21am: Bit of a laugh for your morning.
Act leader David Seymour has used the French love of the "coq" symbol to argue why the silver fern does not need to be on a New Zealand flag.
The French, for instance, love the coq...
6.17am: Commuting news for Aucklanders using the ferry this morning - Stanley Bay will be combined with Bayswater.
Please be advised that Stanley bay ferry services will be combined with the Bayswater service this morning. ^HC
— Auckland Transport (@AklTransport) September 15, 2015
6.13am: Prime Minister John Key and Labour leader Andrew Little will sit down to discuss adding another flag to the referendum finals - Red Peak.
What are your thoughts?
6.10am: Ordinary Kiwis who have done extraordinary things will be celebrated at the Pride of New Zealand Awards ceremony tonight. Good luck to all those unsung heroes nominated.
6.07am: Yesterday's toasty weather is set to continue today - enjoy!
Warm northwesterlies over eastern parts tomorrow. Gisborne should join the 20°C club! http://t.co/TE6V4TclMk pic.twitter.com/QrEm8dNoMd
— MetService (@MetService) September 15, 2015
6.03am: Big news from overnight - police and WorkSafe will continue investigating a fatal explosion at a South Auckland industrial site yesterday.
A man's body was seen flying through the air and debris was strewn for hundreds of metres in the blast.
Here's the latest.
6.00am: Morning all! It's Lauren here, bringing you the latest news this morning plus catching you up on what you missed overnight.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 8.30pm.