A maritime law expert says a review of the water sports industry could be on the cards, now that the owner of a kayaking company has been charged over the deaths of two students at Lake Tekapo.

20-year-old James Murphy and 21-year-old Daniel Hollnsteiner died in September last year when they went out kayaking on the lake in rough weather conditions.

Aquanorts provided them with the kayaks, and as a result the owner of the company has been charged with four charges under the Maritime Transport Act, and three under the Health and Safety Act.

Peter Dawson, from Dawson & Associates said New Zealand's international reputation is at stake, and that's why incidents of this kind need to be thoroughly dealt to.

"A few years back, a company was charged in Queenstown for a death arising out of a wakeboarding or riverboarding accident which prompted an intensive review of the adventure sport industry.

"It's important for New Zealand's international reputation to be seen to have a safe water sports adventure sector," he said.

"Generally you'll find that if there is a fatality, charges will follow."