An activist weeps during a candlelight vigil outside Indonesian embassy in Makati, Philippines April 28, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

WELLINGTON -- The New Zealand government expressed dismay Wednesday at the execution of eight foreigners convicted of drugs offenses and other prisoners in Indonesia.

"New Zealand is strongly opposed to the death penalty in all cases, and under all circumstances," Foreign Minister Murray McCully said in a statement.

"We have expressed our opposition to the death penalty to Indonesia and I made this clear when I met with the Indonesian Foreign Minister recently," he said.

"While we respect Indonesia's right to set and apply its own laws, and understand the immense harm the country suffers from drug trafficking, we are dismayed that these executions have proceeded in the face of continued appeals from some of Indonesia' s closest friends."

"The executions are a serious setback to that progress," McCully said.

Indonesia rejected last-ditch pleas from around the world for clemency to be granted to the eight drug traffickers and defended its decision.