Paula Tesoriero
Paula Tesoriero, of Wellington, received the Insignia of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 24 March 2009 for services to cycling. Ms Tesoriero has been competing internationally in road cycling since 2006. She has competed and won gold and silver medals at the New Zealand Road Championships in 2006 and 2007, the Australian Track Championships in 2006 and 2007, and the Oceania Paralympic Championships in 2007. She won the bronze medal in the women's individual pursuit and won the gold medal in the women's 500 metres time trial at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.