A Queenstown adventure company will fight charges relating to the drowning of a British tourist.

Emily Jordan, 21, died after becoming trapped between two rocks while riverboarding on the Kawarau River Gorge in April last year.

The outing was organised by Black Sheep Adventures Ltd, which trades as Mad Dog River Surfing

In October Maritime New Zealand charged the company against the company and its director Brad Alexander McLeod with offences under the Health and Safety Employment Act.

They pleaded not guilty to all charges at a status hearing in Queenstown District Court a trial date was set down for August 17, The Southland Times reported.

- NZPA