Morning rush.
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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9.01am: Thanks
for joining me on Morning Rush today! I'll be back tomorrow at 6am - why not wake up early and check it out? Cheers.
8.59am: I'll leave you with a big question to ponder - are One Direction about to break up? Reports of the boy-band split might leave some down in the dumps.
8.56am: A hoodie has led to a fairytale beginning for fashion student Khrishae Teriaki. Read about her "tomboy" beginnings here.
8.54am: Before we wrap up for the day, here's the big stories we will be following. The light plane that has disappeared in the North Island - we'll keep you up to date with the rescue efforts for the couple on board. There will also be updates in the aftermath of the Shoreham Airshow disaster in the UK, as well as the fatal crash in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park.
8.50am: This thrifty German student has made a home for herself on trains, instead of paying rent. Read about Leonie Müller's life on the tracks.
8.47am: A blast ripped through a US military post in Japan after midnight, triggering a fire. Read the full report here.
8.45am: There are reports Auckland traffic is turning heavy. NZTA says traffic is moving slow on the Northwestern between Westgate and Te Atatu. Turn that radio dial up and enjoy.
8.43am: State Highway 3 has been cleared after a truck crash earlier this morning near Whanganui.
UPDATE: The truck crash at the intersection of #SH3 & #SH4, Putiki, Wanganui has been cleared. Road is slippery so take extra care ^NA
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) August 23, 2015
8.41am: The pair missing in the Zenith 601XL aircraft have been described as "a lovely couple". Mercury Bay Aero Club spokesman Tony Turner said the couple were very safety conscious. The pair set off from the Mercury Bay Aero Club about 2.30pm yesterday.
We just hope they're still alive...it comes as a shock when you hear that when you know the guy's a very safety conscious person.
8.39am: Security is stepping up on European trains after a gunman known to intelligence agencies opened fire on a high-speed train bound for Paris. Read more here.
8.37am: Smooth times for drivers in Wellington.
8.30am ETAs: Melling – CBD 30min; Tawa – CBD 35min; Cobham Drive – CBD 15min #DriveSafe ^NA pic.twitter.com/1VZZlLLwOg
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) August 23, 2015
8.35am: John Key says Serco will potentially have "all sorts of employment issues" to deal with after a review of the Mt Eden prison is complete. We'll have more for you online today.
8.32am: A controversial on-the-job teacher training programme is clocking up massive interest. Teach First NZ, which sees high-flying graduates placed in low-decile high schools, is hoping to increase participant numbers next year. It has already received 300 applications. Read the full story here.
8.29am: A smart motorway? Why not. You'll be able to go on a virtual tour soon.
A virtual field trip to New Zealand’s first Smart Motorway will start on August 25.http://t.co/GhkwYCgvkL … … pic.twitter.com/aht04XPXaC
— Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Education (@WakaKotahiEdu) August 23, 2015
8.26am: Australian rockers Tame Impala are heading for New Zealand shores. Keen?
8.23am: What!? Rapper Wiz Kahlifa was handcuffed in Los Angeles Airport for allegedly refusing to get off his hoverboard. Read more about the "bizarre incident" here.
All because I didn't want to ditch the technogy everyone will be using in the next 6 months. Do what you want kids. pic.twitter.com/7F0KIQgFrA
— Wiz Khalifa (@wizkhalifa) August 23, 2015
8.19am: The citybound breakdown on the Northwestern after Patiki Rd has now cleared, but traffic remains heavy.
8.17am: An aero club operating out of Whitianga is shocked two of its newest members are missing. Mercury Bay Aero Club spokesman Tony Turner said the police visited him yesterday, asking questions about the missing pair.
He believed they were in their 50s and from Waitara, northeast of New Plymouth.
8.13am: This bride and groom who were due to be collected by a limousine that was obliterated by a fighter jet in the Shoreham Airshow disaster have spoken out of their horror the driver is feared dead. Read the full story here.
8.10am: Feeling stressed? Here's Louise Thompson's tips to help you press pause on an impending freak out.
8.07am: Here's a giggle for your Monday. The hunt for health and safety is the subject of today's cartoon.
8.05am: Seven people were arrested in Queenstown after a number of brawls throughout the town on the weekend.
8.02am: Members of the family of the two people missing in the light plane in New Zealand have gathered at the Stratford Aero Club. Club president Nick Furmage said it was a "hard area to search, right in Tiger Country".
7.59am: Another breakdown is slowing the morning commute. This one is on the Patiki Rd offramp on the North Western. Take care.
A #breakdown is partially blocking the left lane after the Patiki Rd offramp on the Nth Wstn Mwy. Expect #delays ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 23, 2015
7.57am: It's not all doom and gloom as we get older - apparently older NZers are far more jolly than their younger counterparts. Laugh it up!
7.53am: In other airline news this morning, Air New Zealand has slashed lead-in fares this month in what's shaping up to be an intense regional air fare war. Read the full story here.
7.50am: Wellington is staring down the barrel of a damp day - with showers developing and a high of 13C. The drizzle should ease by Wednesday afternoon in time for a sunny Thursday.
7.47am: A fixed-wing plane from Hamilton will be scouring the area today to find the missing Zenith 601XL aircraft. There were two people on board when the plane went missing.
7.44am: New images show the chaos of a fireball exploding at an air show on England's south coast yesterday. Read the full story here.
7.41am: Remember that sinking feeling in 2007 when the All Blacks lost...in the quarters? Read more about it in today's Top 50 rugby moments.
7.37am: Looks like traffic is flowing in the capital this morning. Enjoy!
Good morning! 7.30am ETAs: Melling - CBD 30min; Tawa – CBD 25min; Cobham Drive – CBD 10min #DriveSafe ^NA pic.twitter.com/ZbtCVWYGsE
— Waka Kotahi Wellington (@WakaKotahiWgtn) August 23, 2015
7.33am: What are your thoughts on paying tax on treats you buy online? Our editorial should give you some food for thought.
7.29am: The Esmonde Rd on-ramp should be all clear.
An earlier #breakdown on the citybound onramp at Esmonde Rd on the Nthn Mwy is now clear. #AKLTraffic remains heavy in the area ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 23, 2015
7.26am: One person is dead and two are in a serious condition after a car crash in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park this morning. We'll bring you the latest here.
7.22am: This 3-year-old moggie was found safe and sound under a burnt out vehicle this week, after a wildfire in California.
Check out the video from the US Forest Service of Ruthie the cat coming home.
7.15am: This hunter used his T shirt and duct tape as a tourniquet before hobbling more than 200m to meet his rescuers after impaling his leg on a stick in the Maungatua Range. Check it out here.
7.11am: Over Monday already? This bear looks like he is. Great wee vid from the US Department of the Interior on Facebook.
7.08am: Expect delays at the Esmonde Rd onramp to the Northern Motorway after a breakdown this morning.
A #breakdown is partially blocking the citybound onramp at Esmonde Rd on the Nthn Mwy. Take extra care and expect #delays ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 23, 2015
7.04am: Usain Bolt has done it again, retaining the world sprinting title in Beijing at the weekend. Read about what might have been Bolt's greatest race ever run.
7.01am: Stunning sunrise snapped by Richard Pamatatau this morning!
Beautiful sky en route to town from Muriwai #auckland #photography pic.twitter.com/l2do74YAA5
— Richard Pamatatau (@RPamatatau) August 23, 2015
6.58am: It should be mainly fine in Auckland today with a high of 16C. That's all set to change tomorrow, however, with drizzle turning to heavy rain. It should clear up a bit on Thursday but it might be a wet weekend ahead.
6.56am: Two men are due in Dunedin District Court today after an attack at a shearers quarters in Milton, Otago. A number of calls were made to police about 1am yesterday reporting a murder and stabbing but police found no-one seriously injured.
6.53am: How's your morning commute? We've got no reports of delays in Auckland or Wellington this morning. Email morningrush@nzme.co.nz with your tips.
6.50am: Up to 60,000 women in the US are told they have a very early stage of breast cancer every year. But researchers are now saying having a mastectomy or double mastectomy might make no difference in their outcomes.
Read the full story from the New York Times here.
6.47am: A new witness account puts serial rapist Malcolm Rewa at the scene of one of the country's most notorious unsolved murder cases. Susan Burdett was raped and murdered in her Papatoetoe home in 1992. A former neighbour has now told TV3's 3D Investigates that she saw Rewa sitting in his truck in Burdett's driveway.
6.44am: A light plane has gone missing in New Zealand.
The Zenith 601XL aircraft, with a man and a woman on board, made a radio call to the New Plymouth Control Tower about 4pm yesterday. Half an hour earlier, the single engine aircraft radioed from Mokau to report poor weather conditions and indicated it was moving inland. The search will resume at first light today.
6.40am: Do you go crackers for crackers? You might be surprised to know some of your crunchy favourites are higher in salt and fat than certain potato chips.
6.37am: The BlackCaps have cruised in to an eight-wicket win over South Africa, thanks to Martin Guptill's unbeaten century. George Worker, on his ODI debut, made 20 not out to help see New Zealand home.
Here's the video of Worker receiving his first ODI cap.
The moment when @GeorgeWorker was presented with his first ODI cap #savnz ^PT https://t.co/ARObBhHi1Q
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) August 23, 2015
6.34am: There'll be a minor change for commuters on the Kapiti Line in Wellington from today. The 6.51am service from Paekakariki to Waikanae will no longer be operating. Check out Metlink for more info.
6.32am: About 30 people were arrested in a special police operation over the weekend. Read about the blitz here.
6.29am: No one was hurt in the house fire in Hahei overnight, but there will be extensive damage. A Fire Service spokesman said crews managed to stop the blaze from spreading to neighbouring homes.
6.26am: There's reports of a crash blocking State Highway 3 near Whanganui. We'll have more for you soon.
Reports of a truck crash at the intersection of #SH3 and #SH4, Putiki, Wanganui. The truck is blocking both directions. Updates to come ^NA
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Central North Island (@WakaKotahiCNI) August 23, 2015
6.24am: It's a mixed bag out there, folks. The current high of 11.2C is being experienced in Paraparaumu while Christchurch is the coldest at -2C. Auckland is sitting at 9C.
6.21am: Queen Elizabeth is set to break the record for the longest-reigning monarch.
6.18am: Baby pandas! Which look disturbingly like soft, pink rats. Who knew they were so small? A giant panda gave birth to twins at Smithsonian's National Zoo at the weekend. Check out the video.
6.14am: Fifteen fire trucks have battled flames at a two-storey house in the Coromandel overnight. The Fire Service were called to the Hahei house fire on Wigmore Crescent about 9.15pm.
6.11am: Check out this modest West Auckland home. It's sold four times in three months - and the price has rocketed a whopping $84,000.
6.09am: There's work starting on Papanui Rd in Christchurch this morning. A section of the wastewater mains between Clare Rd and Derby St will be repaired for about two months. Stay patient out there drivers.
6.07am: Oh dear. Rain on the radar for many today. Pack your raincoat or brolly.
Rain spreads north over NZ during Mon/Tue, before clearing Wed. Mostly dry Thu/Fri. http://t.co/RneUpvOdMj ^SG pic.twitter.com/6NAXA8OrJU
— MetService (@MetService) August 23, 2015
6.04am: First up this morning - have you ever been keen to work in the UK? Hopefully the Kiwi OE dream is not over. Read more here.
6.01am: Morning all! Hope you're not too chilly out there. I'm Lauren Priestley and I'll be bringing you the latest and greatest in breaking news plus what you missed overnight. Enjoy the ride.
They allege the Crown ignored Treaty obligations by not engaging with them.