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@nzherald.co.nz.
9.01am: Thank you for joining me for today's edition of the Morning Rush news blog. We will keep you up to date with today's developing news stories at nzherald.co.nz. Morning Rush will be back at 6am tomorrow.
8.56am:
Former Beatles stars Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have paid tribute to Cilla Black. McCartney said news of Black's death came as a shock. "She had a fine distinctive voice and was always a bit of a laugh. It was a privilege to know and love her," McCartney said in a statement. Starr tweeted: "She was a good friend we will all miss her."
8.52am: The latest news on the Tiwai Pt smelter has just come in. A deal has been signed between the smelter and Meridian Energy through to 2017. Here's the full story from the Business Herald.
8.49am: Before we wrap things up for the day here's the big news stories from the morning that we will be following throughout the day. The man shot and killed by police last night was revealed to be Slovakian man David Cerven who was wanted by police in relation to three armed robberies across the North Shore. The trial for the man accused of murdering Connor Morris begins today in Auckland. Tributes from around the world are flowing for legendary entertainer Cilla Black.
A new reality TV show described as a "real life Modern Family' follows the antics of veteran actor George Hamilton's blended family with ex-wife Alana Stewart.
8.26am: Tranz Metro reports trains on the Johnsonville line in Wellington are running ten minutes late due to operational reasons.
8.24am: It's going to be a wet and windy in the capital today. Northerly winds are already gusting 75 km/h and are set to increase over the next 24 hours. Showers will move in later in the morning and hang around all day.
Winds in #Wellington and Wairarapa set to increase over the next 24 hrs and it's already gusting 75k/hr in Wellington! ^EB
8.22am: Another lunchtime highlight is Paul Casserly's trawl through July's TV. He'll be bringing you the best quotes, also from noon. Check out our brilliant Entertainment section.
8.19am: There's still hope for Warriors fans - at least according to Graham Lowe. He reckons their problems can be fixed easily and they can still make the Grand Final. Optimistic. Read his views at nzherald.co.nz from noon.
8.17am: Friends and family have farewelled Bobbi Kristina Brown, the only daughter of Whitney Houston, at a funeral near Atlanta. The 22-year-old died in hospice care July 26, six months after being found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub at her suburban Atlanta home. CNN has the story here.
Manufacturing, technology and other benefactors like tourism and education are sectors that will provide urban jobs. They are the key sectors when we talk about diversifying New Zealand's economy and getting away from the trap of commodity cycles.
Here's an image of Dr Seski with an elephant he killed bow hunting last year.
Dr Seski, the latest American doctor to be accused of hunting and killing a lion in Zimbabwe, with an elephant he killed last year. Photo / GrizzlyStik via Facebook
7.55am: Zimbabwe officials allege that a second American doctor killed a lion in an illegal hunt earlier this year. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said that Dr. Jan Seski, who practices in the Pittsburgh area, took part in a hunt with Nyala Safaris in April.
7.50am:
For a change of pace, check out this video of Joseph Parker's hidden talent - who knew the heavyweight boxer was also a piano player?
Cerven was wanted by police after three armed robberies across the North Shore.
An image of David Cerven released by police. Photo / Supplied
7.42am: Our reporter at the media briefing at Auckland Central police station said Cerven told police he was armed. He advanced in police and was shot. Police administered medical help in the scene but were unable to revive him.
7.40am: Police have named the man killed in Myers Park last night. He was Slovakian David Cerven, 21.
7.35am: Motorists on the North-Western Motorway are facing sunstrike this morning as well as heavy traffic.
7.30am: A fire has damaged one of the best watering holes in Dunedin. The Bog Irish Bar, on the corner of George St and London St, was damaged by a blaze in an office on the first floor. No one was injured.
7.26am: A bit of bad luck has seen Indycar driver Scott Dixon move back to seventh after being the early leader at the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. After starting on pole, Dixon had a comfortable lead but when he went to pit for the first time, an incident on the track brought out a yellow flag which saw Dixon move back down the field. There are 28 laps remaining in the 90-lap race.
Something a little different this morning. UFC fighter Ronda Rousey took her unbeaten run to 11 fights, 11 wins and 11 finishes on Saturday, with only one opponent lasting into the second round. Rousey only needed one round to retain her women's bantamweight title over Bethe Correia, the fight only latest 34 seconds. She is one of the most fierce mixed martial arts fighters in the sport.
Ronda Rousey, right, remains undefeated in her sport of UFC. Photo/ Facebook
7.16am: Continuing the theme of heavy traffic in Auckland, I've just heard the North-Western is congested this morning as well. Currently, it's at least 40 minutes from Royal Rd on-ramp into the city.
7.13am: This week is set to be a wet one, with rain bands sweeping across the country all week long. Today will be the driest Auckland will get, so save the rain coats and weather-proof footwear for later in the week. Auckland is chasing a high of 17C and MetService say there is a chance of a shower or two. Kaitaia is the warmest spot to be this morning, it's already 13.4C there, and Timaru is the coldest, where it is just a fraction above 0C.
7.09am: There's been a small nose-to-tail between a small car and a van on the Onewa Rd onramp to the Northern Motorway. Traffic is backed up around the North Shore as motorists go rubber-necking slowly past the police cars.
, including some gang-themed New Zealand apples and a witness to a small car crash is keen to help the victim out. Here's an artist's impression of the TPP agreement.
TPPA champion Tim Groser's office in New Lynn has been enhanced by an artistic vandal with a political opinion.
7.04am: More traffic problems for commuters coming into the city this morning. The Southern Motorway is jammed from Mt Wellington to Ellerslie after a breakdown in the left lane. Be patient and turn the radio up.
A #breakdown is blocking the left lane citybound on Sthn Mwy near Ellerslie. Traffic is back to Mt Wellington, expect #delays ^LC
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 2, 2015
7.00am: Auckland Police will update media on the situation around the fatal shooting in Myers Park last night at 7.30am. We will have the latest news for you online.
6.55am: Former AC/DC drummer Phil Rudd is back in court today after breaching his home detention conditions.
6.52am: A decision is due today in Invercargill on the future of the Tiwai smelter. A lot of jobs are on the line. We will have more news on the decision later in the day.
6.48am: Ever wanted to remove all trace of yourself from the web? A New Zealand researcher has developed software that could, within seconds, allow Google to remove someone's personal information on the internet. Here's our Big Read from last night.
6.45am: The earlier crash at the base of the Harbour Bridge has now cleared, NZTA says, but traffic is blocked up back to Northcote Rd.
6.40am: Lydia Ko didn't make history overnight as the youngest winner of a golf major. She finished in third place, making it her third top three finish at a major. Inbee Park took out the win.
6.37am:
The trial for the man accused of murdering Connor Morris, long-term partner of Millie Elder-Holmes, begins today. We will have all the latest updates online throughout the day.
Millie Elder-Holmes and partner Connor Morris. Photo / Facebook
6.35am: Kiwi Indycar driver Scott Dixon has made a strong start to the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio. After starting on pole Dixon, who has won six times at Mid-Ohio, leads after 20 of the 90 laps.
6.33am: You might be sick of the cold winter weather, but spare a thought for those in Iran, where an intense heatwave has sent temperatures up to 70C. Not my idea of a winter getaway!
6.29am: NZTA is reporting that a crash is blocking the centre lane on the Northern Motorway at the base of the Barbour Bridge city-bound. This is going to cause delays for commuters. Take it easy and be patient.
Update: The #breakdown citybound on Auckland Harbour Bridge is now clear. But a #crash at the base of the bridge is causing #delays ^LC
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 2, 2015
6.22am: An amazing story this morning about a baby born on the side of the Southern Motorway. A policeman played midwife, helping the baby to arrive healthy and safe on the side of the motorway. Read more about the surprising birth here.
I beeped the horn and I was waving. I wound the window down and I was yelling to him. Finally he was like 'what?' I yelled, 'My sister's having a baby and we don't know what to do'.
6.19am: The Black Caps were beaten overnight by Zimbabwe. The home team chased down New Zealand's 303 for four with an over to spare.
6.16am:
Police shot a man dead in a central Auckland park last night.
Myers Park was in lockdown overnight after the fatal shooting. The man, who was known to police, died at the scene despite immediate assistance from officers.
6.13am: The latest wreckage found on Reunion Island is not wreckage from a plane, Malaysian officials say. What is it, then? A "domestic ladder". Read more here.
6.11am: Could Jericho, the brother of Cecil the lion, be alive? CNN thinks so.
6.07am:
Sad news for entertainment fans. Cilla Black has passed away in her Spanish home. The 60s pop icon was 72 years old.
Cilla Black passed away at her Spanish home. Photo / Getty Images
6.04am: Good morning everyone. It's Sophie Ryan here, I'll be bringing you all the latest news through out the morning and catching you up on what you missed overnight.
