New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All of the 145 pilot whales that stranded themselves on a remote New Zealand beach have died.

However, conservation workers are hoping to save some of the eight pygmy killer whales that remained stranded Monday at the other end of the country in an unrelated event.

A hiker discovered the pilot whales in two pods about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) apart late Saturday on Stewart Island. About 75 were already dead and conservation workers decided to euthanize the others due to their poor condition and remote location.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Visitors to New Zealand can be fined 5,000 New Zealand dollars ($3,243) for refusing to provide passwords to unlock electronic devices and allow customs officials to examine them under a new law that a civil liberties group on Thursday condemned as a grave invasion of privacy.

The law came into effect on Oct. 1 as part of an update of 22-year-old customs legislation. It also gives customs officials authority to copy data found on searched devices.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government on Monday introduced a bill to give effect to its decision to halt the offering of new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, and has kept its commitment to protect existing permits.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in April announced that the government would not be granting any new offshore oil and gas exploration permits, but that the government would be protecting existing permits and the rights associated with them.

15 Aug 2018; DW: In an attempt to curb growing house prices, New Zealand has banned most foreigners from buying certain properties. Statistics show China and Australia are the biggest buyers, but Australia won't be subject to the ban.

New Zealand's parliament on Wednesday passed a law banning many non-resident foreigners from buying existing homes in the country.

The bill aims to stop New Zealanders being outbid by wealthy foreign buyers.

7 Aug 2018; DW: The EU foreign affairs minister encouraged companies to ignore US President Donald Trump's threats on doing business with Iran. She said it's up to Europeans to decide who they trade with.

Speaking in Wellington alongside New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Tuesday, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini directly called on EU companies to defy US President Donald Trump.

17 Apr, 2018

Kasmeer Lata has been jailed for six years and 11 months for selling her daughter as a sex slave over a two-year period. She escaped her horror in November 2016 and reported to police. Avneensh Sehgal, the partner of Lata, pleaded guilty to dealing in underage people for sexual exploitation.

Kasmeer Lata was sentenced on Tuesday in the High Court at Auckland by Justice Matthew Muir for dealing in slaves and receiving earnings from commercial sexual services from an underage person.