A defended hearing involving Maritime New Zealand and the owner of Mad Dog River Boarding will begin in Queenstown District Court on Monday afternoon.
Maritime New Zealand decided to prosecute Brad McLeod after the death of Emily Jordan, 21, on the Kawarau River in April last year.
Ms Jordan was on a Mad Dog River Boarding trip when she became trapped under rocks in the river and drowned.
Mr McLeod and his company deny three charges each under the Health and Safety in Employment Act over Ms Jordan's death.
The hearing is expected to take five days.
