"It would be great if these young people [who caused the fight] and their parents came along," she said.
"I don't have all the answers. Anyone is invited to come along. The only people who know the answers are those who were in the brawl. Come to the meeting and let us know what you want."
She grew up in Rotorua and said her daughters, aged 19, 21 and 22, still lived in the city. She now had a granddaughter and wanted a safe community in which she could grow.
Ms Potaka accepted that there were lots of programmes and initiatives already on offer to young people in the city, but they didn't operate at key times, such as during public holidays.
"There are already successful programmes out there and I acknowledge that but there are high-risk times when these programmes are closed," she said.
"Young people are roaming in the CBD. It's okay if they're going to town to do something but not to cause fights because they're bored."
Ms Potaka wanted tonight to be a chance for people to create "an open discussion" between business owners, parents and youth. She wanted the end result to be a way to provide free activities in the CBD for youth, ideally using the Village Green.
"It's got to be a community-led initiative."
The meeting will take place in the meeting room at McDonald's, Fenton St, from 6pm.
