Paula Tesoriero

New Zealand Paralympic racing cyclist

Paula Tesoriero

MNZM

Tesoriero in 2020

2nd Disability Rights Commissioner

In office
2017–2022

Preceded by

Paul Gibson

Personal details

Born

(1975-08-29) 29 August 1975 (age 48)
Wellington, New Zealand

Alma mater

Victoria University of Wellington

Sports career

Country

New Zealand

Sport

Cycling

Medal record

Women's para cycling

Representing New Zealand
Paralympic Games
	2008 Beijing	500 m time trial LC3–4/CP 3
	2008 Beijing	Individual pursuit LC 3-4/CP 3
	2008 Beijing	Individual road time trial LC 3–4/CP 3

Paula Margaret Tesoriero MNZM (born 29 August 1975 in Wellington)^[1] is a former New Zealand paralympics racing cyclist and senior public servant.

Early life

Tesoriero was born with amniotic band syndrome, which caused mobility issues. She got her first bicycle when she was five and used it as a way to "keep up with everyone."^[2] Her left leg was amputated below the knee when she was thirteen.^[2]^[3] Tesoriero uses an artificial left leg and is missing an ankle on her right leg. When she competes, she uses a carbon limb on her left leg.

Tesoriero graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Arts in 1998, a Bachelor of Laws in 2000 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Management in 2009.^[4]

Cycling career

Tesoriero is classified as a LC3 athlete. She competed for New Zealand in the 2008 Summer Paralympics. Her world record-breaking time in the women's 500m time trial secured New Zealand's first gold medal at that games, and she later went on to win bronze in both the individual pursuit,^[5] and the women's individual road time trial.^[6] She broke the world record earlier in the year and also won two silver medals at the 2006 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.^[7] Tesoriero also competed in the bicycle road race.^[8]^[9]

Tesoriero was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2009 New Year Honours, for her services to cycling.^[10] She has been a member of the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand since 2015 and has also been on the boards of the New Zealand Artificial Limb Service, the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation and Paralympics NZ.^[11]^[12]

She was chef de mission for New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.^[2]^[12]

Public service career

Tesoriero worked as a senior legal adviser and manager at the Ministry of Justice from 2002 to 2016, finishing as General Manager, High Courts. She was General Manager, System and Partnerships at Statistics New Zealand from 2016 to 2017.

She was appointed Disability Rights Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission in June 2017. After completing her first three-year term, she was reappointed for a further five years.^[13] During her appointment, she was Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner from 2018 to 2019.^[12] As Disability Rights Commissioner, Tesoriero initiated an inquiry into support of disabled people during the Omicron outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2022.^[14]

She was announced as the first chief executive of Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People on 30 August 2022 and is the first disabled person to lead a New Zealand public service department.^[12]^[15]^[16]

References

^ "Paralympic Athletes – Cycling". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Paralympic chef de mission still rides like the wind". Newsroom. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ Manson, Bess (15 December 2017). "Paula Tesoriero - fighting for equality". Stuff. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ Victoria University of Wellington (17 September 2020). "Roll of graduates | Current students | Victoria University of Wellington". www.wgtn.ac.nz. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ "Gold for Pascoe wins, Tesoriero grabs bronze". NZPA. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
^ Burgess, Suzanne (12 September 2008). "Tesoriero's triple medal treat". One Sport. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
^ Tian, Lan (9 September 2008). "Paula Tesoriero's prize comes before the fall". Retrieved 24 June 2014.
^ "Kiwi wins gold at Paralympics". One Sport. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 12 September 2008.
^ Jonathan Millmow (9 September 2008). "Gold and a sore head". Retrieved 12 September 2008.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "New Year Honours List 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
^ "Paula Tesoriero MNZM – Sports Tribunal NZ". 17 January 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Chief Executive, Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People appointed | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission". www.publicservice.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ Human Rights Commission (11 June 2020). "Human Rights Commission Warmly Welcomes Disability Rights Commissioner's Re-Appointment". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ Tang, Eda (10 March 2022). "Call for urgency as inquiry into support of disabled people during Omicron launched". Stuff. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
^ James, Laura; Reporter, 1News. "Paula Tesoriero appointed head of new Ministry of Disabled People". 1 News. Retrieved 30 August 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Shivas, Olivia (30 August 2022). "Paula Tesoriero appointed chief executive of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People". Stuff. Retrieved 30 August 2022.