Together with Walter Lini, he founded the Vanuatu Party, which advocated independence for the Anglo-French condominium New Hebrides, socialist policies, and support for the predominantly English-speaking population of Vanuatu. In 1983, Kalpokas became the country's foreign minister, which became independent in 1980, but resigned a few months later. In 1987, he was re-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, remaining in office for four years.