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.
9.00am: That's all for today's Morning Rush, everyone. We will keep you up to date with what is happening in central North Island throughout the morning. Take care if you're in the affected lock-down areas. The blog will be back up and running at 6am tomorrow. Thanks for joining me.
8.55am: The New Zealand dollar was little changed after dairy product prices jumped. The kiwi was at 65.84 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 65.89 cents at 5pm yesterday.
8.50am: We will have all the latest details on the unfolding situation in central North Island today here at nzherald.co.nz. Please stay safe indoors everyone in Ohakune, Raetihi and Waiouru.
Librarians - they really are the warriors for books... I had not given up hope, but I didn't really believe they would succeed.
8.34am: Rugby writer Patrick McKendry says young guns Sopoaga, MIlner-Skudder and Taylor should be included in Rugby World Cup squad. Read his full report here.
8.30am: Police will be giving media a briefing of the situation unfolding in the central North Island at 10.30am in Palmerston North. We will have all the information at nzherald.co.nz as soon as the press conference is underway.
8.15am: Newstalk ZB are reporting Ruapehu College in Ohakune is in lock-down because of the armed offender on the run in the area.
8.09am: Five people who lost loved ones to workplace accidents last night spoke at Parliament about their losses and urged MPs present not to water down the Health and Safety Reform Bill which will be back before the House today. Read the full story here.
The number of workplace deaths will continue to rise rapidly if this bill passes and change is not made. The blood will be on your hands.
8.05am: It's a wet and windy morning in Wellington, with heavy rain falling and northerlies gusting to 90 km/h.
8.00am: Would you want to live to be 150? A scientist says this could be the future. Find out more here.
7.53am:Here's the full story on the situation in central North Island, including details on the man who police are hunting in relation to the incident.
7.49am: Cockroaches in the Masterchef house and mould in the bedrooms. An ex-contestant has revealed poor conditions the stars live in. Read all the details here.
7.47am: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has this morning confirmed no New Zealanders were killed or injured in the Bangkok blast.
7.45am: Police are advising people to stay inside, and parents should consider keeping their kids home from school in Raetihi, Ohakune and Waiouru.
7.43am: NZME spoke to a local shopkeeper, they said the person stole a car and shot at police.
7.38am: Police were shot at this morning in Raetihi. A major operation is underway in the small town near Ohakune to locate the people responsible.
7.36am: We are trying to get more information on a major police operation underway in central North Island this morning. TV3 reported police were swooping on the town of Raetihi this morning.
7.33am: An embarrassing South African bungle has apparently handed the Black Caps their opponents' bowling plan. A hotel guest has posted South Africa's bowling strategy on Facebook, after finding it slipped under her door. Check out the full story, including the notes on the bowling tactics here.
7.30am: Catherine Gaffaney in Bangkok tells how the resilient residents of Bangkok have picked themselves up and carried on after yesterday's bomb blast. Read about her experience here.
7.24am: The funeral for a four-year-old girl found dead in mysterious circumstances at her Auckland home will be held today. Maggie Watson died in unexplained circumstances inside the Onehunga home she lived in with her mother, Evelyn Sen, early on August 7 and police are still investigating her death.
7.20am: Traffic on the North-Western Motorway is flowing well this morning.
You have to see these photos of cats dressed in uniforms as part of an annual fashion shoot in a New York City hotel. New York's Algonquin Hotel plays host to a cat fashion show every year in honour of Matilda, a stray who made the fancy hotel her home in the 1920s.
7.04am: The daffodils planted on Great South Rd at Manukau have been "raved" about and speeders between Auckland and Hamilton "ranted about". Check out the Rants & Raves here for more.
6.59am:
A Kiwi artist living in Bangkok spent every night for a week painting outside the famous Erawan Shrine. He finished his artwork on Sunday - the night before a bomb ripped through the vicinity.
Auckland artist Charles Clapshaw. Photo / Supplied.
6.53am: Currently, the warmest place to be this morning is New Plymouth, where it's 13.1C. The coldest place in the country is Alexandra, where it's -0.8C right now.
6.49am: Zac Guildford is making the news again this morning, after thwarting a shoplifter's attempted get-away. Guildford and fellow Hawke's Bay players Chris Eaton and Ryan Tongia were at a Napier eatery yesterday when a thief dashed out of a clothing store nearby, TV3 reported today.
6.43am: Traffic is easing on the Northern Motorway after an earlier oil spill near Tristram Ave was cleared. The left-lane was blocked for a time. Travel time is currently 37 minutes from Constellation Drive into the city.
6.38am: It's going to be a rainy day across the North Island today. Auckland and Northland could have heavy and thundery falls in the morning. Tauranga and Hamilton could be in for similar conditions that will ease after lunch.
6.16am: Here's an update from NZTA. The oil spill has been cleared but traffic is very heavy.
Update: The oil spill citybound on Nthn Mwy at Tristram has been cleared. Traffic is heavy, currently taking 55mins frm Greville to city ^LC
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 18, 2015
6.12am: Traffic is backed up to Greville Rd on the Northern Motorway because of an oil spill near the Tristram Ave off-ramp.
6.10am: Last night's Big Read was about life after rugby for Richie McCaw. It's a must-read by Dylan Cleaver. Check it out here.
Part of [retiring] scares you a little bit. I've done the same thing for so many years. "To all of a sudden be having to figure out something else to do is a bit daunting.
6.07am: Wholemilk powder prices rallied by 19.1 per cent to US$1,856 a tonne at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction, raising hopes that prices may finally have turned after declining sharply since March. Read more about the good news for farmers here.
This is the man police in Thailand suspect of planting a bomb at a popular HIndu shrine and detonating it, killing 20 people and wounding more than 100. "The yellow shirt guy is not just the suspect. He is the bomber," police spokesman Lt. Gen. Prawut Thavornsiri told The Associated Press.
This man was seen on CCTV footage removing his backpack at the shrine and walking away. Photo / AP
6.02am: Commuters coming into the city from the North Shore should be aware there has been an oil spill on the Northern Motorway after Tristram Ave offramp. NZTA says the left lane is blocked. The traffic is heavily backed up, so expect delays.
6.00am Good morning everyone. It's a wet morning in Auckland, so make sure you bring a raincoat and umbrella if you're heading out and about around the city today.
