Wellington  - A letter from the grieving father of a 21-year-old English tourist who drowned while riding a body board down rapids on a New Zealand river has prompted the government into launching an inquiry into the safety of the adventure tourism industry, Prime Minister John Key said Monday.

He told reporters the letter from the father of backpacker Emily Jordan, who drowned in the South Island's Kawarau River in April last year, had urged him to better regulate the sector.

The Mad Dog River Boarding company of Queenstown was fined 66,000 New Zealand dollars (46,200 US dollars) and ordered to pay 80,000 New Zealand dollars compensation to Jordan's family last month after admitting two charges under the Health and Safety in Employment Act.

The company's website described river boarding as "the most personally challenging and action-packed water activity in New Zealand."

Key, who is also minister of tourism, said he had ordered a full-scale inquiry into the adventure tourism sector, including land, sea and air activities, and requested recommendations to improve risk management and safety.

"Tourism is critically important to New Zealand, and we must do all we can to ensure visitor safety," he said.

Key said he thought the industry was generally safe but it was possible "some cowboys" were operating and it was essential to protect New Zealand's international reputation. (dpa)