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.