Internationally recognised survivor advocate Gloria Masters has highlighted what she describes as New Zealand's "silent epidemic" of child sexual abuse, while sharing her own decades-long journey of recovery and healing.

Masters, who grew up in West Auckland, revealed she experienced sexual abuse and trafficking throughout her childhood, beginning in infancy and continuing until the age of 16. She said the abuse left lasting psychological impacts that took decades to fully understand and address.

Masters said recovery from prolonged childhood trauma was far from straightforward.

"I thought I would be fine once it was over," she said. "Instead, everything fell apart."

Masters described dissociation as one of the most significant consequences of her trauma, explaining it as a survival mechanism in which "the mind leaves because the body can't."

Now an author, speaker and advocate, Masters has dedicated much of her later life to supporting survivors and challenging systems that allow abuse to continue unchecked. She said she was not able to openly discuss her experiences until she was nearly 60 years old, when writing her memoir helped her process what had happened.

Masters cited research indicating that one in three girls and one in five boys in New Zealand will experience sexual abuse before adulthood. She argued that the scale of the issue is not reflected in public discussion or policy attention.

"The outcry is invisible," she said, describing child sexual abuse as a problem that remains largely hidden despite its prevalence.

Masters also spoke about the role of grooming, secrecy and shame in preventing victims from disclosing abuse. She said perpetrators often manipulate not only children but also families and communities, making it difficult for survivors to be believed when they eventually speak out.

A particularly damaging experience, she said, can occur when survivors are dismissed after disclosing abuse. Masters referred to this as a "second wound", a further trauma caused by disbelief, denial or minimisation.

Despite the challenges, she emphasised that recovery and healing are possible. Through her advocacy work, Masters now hears regularly from survivors around New Zealand and overseas who are finding the confidence to share their own stories.

Her message, she said, is simple but powerful: survivors are not alone, they deserve to be believed, and hope remains possible even after profound trauma.