But she has finally been given the recognition she deserves.

Massey University presented Dr Goodman with an honorary doctorate at its Wellington graduation ceremony this week in recognition of her achievements as a reporter and as a trailblazer for women in the world of journalism.

Her achievements include being the BBC’s first female foreign correspondent, the first woman to run one of the BBC’s foreign bureaux and the first mother to be sent on an overseas posting.

During her foreign postings, she covered nearly two decades of historic change – including conflicts in Lebanon, Libya and Romania, the reunification of Germany, post-Communist Eastern Europe and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

“I’m enormously chuffed, as they would say in Britain,” she says. “It is wonderful to get the recognition because people are not always interested in hearing about what you have done in your life before.”

On Radio NZ’s Sunday programme yesterday, she joined Wallace Chapman to talk about her career and gave her perspective on the challenges that Europe faces now and in the future.

• Full Radio NZ Sunday interview with Dr Goodman