National MP tells Barclay to have a break and 'get your mental health right'

National MP Todd Barclay has confirmed he will return to Wellington.

A National MP has urged outgoing Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay to have a good break and "get your mental health right".

National list MP and Hutt South candidate Chris Bishop made the comments on the BackBenches television show last night, after being asked what his advice for Barclay would be.

"Have a good break, and get your mental health right," Bishop said.

Host Wallace Chapman responded, "fair enough, alright, ohhh, ok, yep, good on you, alright, there you go".

Bishop told the Herald he was asked the question during a rapid fire question segment.

"I just meant, look, he's a young guy and regardless of the rights and wrongs of what happened, he has been through an enormous amount of personal stress and is no longer going to be MP, as a young guy who wanted to be an MP and set himself up for a long career.

"I just meant, anyone going through something like that, you've just got to make sure you look after yourself and spend time with family and friends and just make sure you stay well."

Barclay, 27, hasn't been at Parliament since announcing last month he would not seek re-election as the Clutha-Southland MP, after allegations he secretly recorded a staff member during an employment dispute.

Parliament is currently in recess but will return next week, and Barclay recently told Mountain Scene he will return to Wellington.

Police have reopened an investigation into allegations Barclay secretly recorded the conversations of his former electorate staff member Glenys Dickson.

When Barclay announced on June 21 he would not seek re-election it was roughly three months to go until the election, a period in which Barclay will have the benefit of taxpayer-funded travel, a taxpayer-funded car and his $40,000 salary - a quarter of the basic MPs' pay packet of $160,000.

Those benefits and another three months' pay then come to Barclay as part of the arrangement enjoyed by politicians who are leaving Parliament.