Climbing New Zealand

The 2025–26 Lead Development Squad is the pool of athletes eligible for New Zealand team selection at international lead competitions this season.

Being named in the squad isn’t automatic selection for any event. When an international competition comes up, CNZ sends an expression of interest to squad athletes. The final team for that competition is selected from athletes who respond.

Selections across all categories are made under the CNZ selection policy.

Female lead

Open

AthleteNotes
Katie Chinn
Xanthe Saunders
Grace HansenDiscretionary
Zoe BallDiscretionary
Alicia SchenkDiscretionary

U19

AthleteNotes
Katie Chinn
Xanthe Saunders
Grace Hansen
Zoe BallDiscretionary
Alicia SchenkDiscretionary

U17

AthleteNotes
Sylvia Palmer
Charlotte Chinn
Holly Meyer
Scarlett Cachatoor-Faber

U15

AthleteNotes
Anna Evans
Ayla Radley
Yume Fookes
Marley de Jong

U13

AthleteNotes
Nina Fookes
Olivia Chellet
Trixie de Jong

Para

AthleteNotes
Eltje Malzbender
Rachel MaiaDiscretionary

Male lead

Open

AthleteNotes
Oliver Chinn
Luke WilliamsDiscretionary

U19

AthleteNotes
Eliezar Cachatoor-Faber
Lucas Machado Gomes

U17

AthleteNotes
Fletcher McGrath
Quinn Boetzelen-McIntyre
Xavier Wasek-Webb
Ben Giles
Malachi Johnston
Alex James

U15

AthleteNotes
Hugo Harkness
Max Lepper
Brooklyn Jackson-Gers
Tobin PriestleyDiscretionary
Huxley BolgerDiscretionary

U13

AthleteNotes
Hamish McLaughlin
Xavier FaberDiscretionary
Lochie WardDiscretionary
Mikhail DergilevDiscretionary — development squad only

Para

AthleteNotes
Kaleb Westlake