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
9.01am: And that's us for this morning! We've just heard that the crash on SH30 as well as the one at the intersection of Anzac Drive and Pages Rd in Christchurch have been cleared. Thanks for joining me on Morning Rush - and make sure to tune in again from 6am tomorrow.
8.53am: Before we wrap up for this morning, here's what we'll be following today: The horrific news of two television journalists who were shot dead in the US - we'll have the latest updates. In the courts, the trial for the 17-year-old charged with murdering of rugby league teen Luke Tipene continues. We'll also have more in the lead-up to the All Blacks Rugby World Cup selection - plus the latest breaking news throughout the day.
8.21am: Latest in the TV reporter and cameraman shooting - White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has spoken out, saying gun violence is becoming all too common.
8.18am: More traffic to come - reports of a breakdown on the Northwestern city-bound after Te Atatu.
Reports of a #breakdown city-bnd on Nth Wstn Mwy after Te Atatu onramp blocking the right lane. Emergency services enroute. ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 26, 2015
8.15am: A giant, racy-red motorised stiletto is not what you expect to see cruising down the avenues of Iran's capital - but it certainly attracts attention for one intrepid shoe-shiner. Check out the video here.
8.08am: The man who opened fire in a packed midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Colorado in 2012, leaving 12 dead, has been sentenced to life in prison plus 3,318 years - the maximum allowed by law. The judge told deputies: "Get the defendant out of my courtroom, please." Here's the story.
James Holmes appears in court to be formally sentenced. Photo / AP
8.05am: One of the newborn panda twins born at Washington's National Zoo has died after three and a half days. Here's the full story.
8.02am: A slow drive for Aucklanders - don't get too frustrated on the roads!
#AKLTraffic is heavy into the city this morning. 35 from Greville, 65 from Papakura & 40 from Westgate. Take care & #DriveSafe. ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Auckland & Northland (@WakaKotahiAkNth) August 26, 2015
7.48am: Moons, meat and motor-babies in today's Sideswipe. There's a bit of fun for your Thursday.
One of these images is Jupiter's moon Europa, the rest are frying pans. Check out Sideswipe to find out which is the moon.
7.45am: The gunman who shot dead a reporter and cameraman in the US was a former employee with a track record of claiming racism in the workplace. Here's the latest.
7.42am: An earlier truck and trailer crash near Rotoma has now cleared. The road is clear but take care.
UPDATE: #SH30 near Rotoma is now OPEN to 1 lane with a stop/go in place as the earlier crash is cleared. Take care in the area. ^TP
— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) August 26, 2015
7.35am: Photobomb! George Clooney got in on this action - where model Cindy Crawford shares an intimate moment with her husband Rande Gerber - and he seems to be having a great time. Here's the pic in the CNN's list of this week's top selfies.
7.29am: Wellingtonians rejoice! You're in for a fine day with a high of 12C and no rain on the radar until Saturday. It might go downhill from there though.
7.25am: The steady approach of Jacinda Ardern is the subject of today's cartoon...
7.22am: A teen brought up in state care says he was treated "like a dog". The comments come in light of a damning CYF report released today.
They treated you like a dog, I suppose. You're fed, you're given things to keep safe and clean, and that's about it, that's about all they'll give you.
7.19am: The Moroccan gunman accused of attacking passengers on a Paris-bound train was led into court barefoot, blindfolded and dressed only in blue hospital pyjamas. Read the full report here.
7.01am: Traffic is stacking up a bit in Wellington this morning. Here's the latest drive times: Melling - CBD 23min; Tawa - CBD 21min; Cobham Drive - CBD 9min.
6.57am: A distressed cat hanging from the second floor window in Wexford, Ireland, was rescued by a group of passers by. Check out the viral vid from Linda O'Brien on Facebook.
The Super Rugby championship winner and first-choice All Black halfback, now assured of his immediate future after re-signing with New Zealand Rugby, is on the brink of his first World Cup.
If All Black halfback Aaron Smith is able to keep his focus on what he does better than anyone in the game, his great year could get a whole lot better. Photo / Getty Images
6.51am: Developers have snapped up almost $20 million worth of land for Auckland schools in the past two years. Here's the exclusive.
6.48am: Looking beautiful in the capital this morning!
6.38am: A damning report on Child, Youth and Family says some children in state care are being moved up to 60 times between foster carers. Check out the full report here.
6.25am: Good news for bar fans - the bill allowing bars to open at any time of the morning to televise 2015 Rugby World Cup games passed in Parliament last night by 99 votes to 21.
The Green Party, six Labour MPs and the Maori Party voted against the Bill. Labour allowed a conscience vote and 26 MPs supported it.
6.22am: Enjoy the calm weather for the next couple of days - warning amounts of rain is expected from late Friday to Saturday. The affected areas will be Nelson, Westland and Buller as well as the Marlborough Ranges.
6.19am: Both the cameraman and reporter who were shot to death were romantically involved with other employees at the station. Here's a tweet from reporter Alison Parker's partner Chris Hurst.
6.16am:BREAKING: Reports have just come in the suspected shooter, who shot a US reporter and cameraman, has died at hospital. We will have more for you soon.
6.14am: A moderate earthquake shook awake a bunch of residents near Taumaranui and New Plymouth this morning. The magnitude-3.5 quake was 25 km south of Taumaranui and hit about 5.30am.
6.11am: It's looking OK weather-wise in Auckland before the weekend, folks. Enjoy!
6.08am:More from the school brawl saga - here's the latest. A mob of schoolboys from three different schools turned on a 19-year-old picking his little sister up from school outside One Tree Hill College in Onehunga last week.
6.05am: A mixed day out there this Thursday morning. Whitianga is seeing the current high of 10.1C and the coldest spot is Alexandra at -3.2C. Stay warm!
6.03am: Horrific news from the US this morning. A TV reporter and cameraman have been shot to death during a live television interview yesterday. The story - and footage - is here.
Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were presenting a local tourism story at the time of the killing. Photo / WDBJ7
6.01am: Morning all! Welcome to Morning Rush. Lauren here, join me for the latest news as well as traffic and weather updates and what you missed overnight
