Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is calling for some important issues facing the country to be elevated above politics.

He wants collaboration between political parties on issues like child poverty, mental illness and climate change.

Speaking to the Small Business Tauranga in Welcome Bay, Todd says there's a willingness in the community to see political parties work together on issues to support the young and vulnerable in society.

'They want clear direction but less partisanship and petty fighting,” says Todd.

'They want to see better outcomes for themselves and their families.

'They want to see solutions to our most challenging systemic problems that are best served by considered debate and reflection.

'They don't want to turn on the TV and see their Parliament behaving like a classroom full of class clowns.

'We should seek out greater opportunities to work together, build consensus, and unite behind issues that could, and arguably should, be above day to day adversarial politics.

'We might not be able to agree on all of the smallest details, but in the interests of New Zealand we should at least have the same high level direction of travel.

'Politicians of all stripes and sizes should never forget that we have been sent to Wellington by our communities to do a job.”