In 1884, the German Empire formally took possession of the northeast quarter of the island and put its administration in the hands of a chartered trading company formed for the purpose, the German New Guinea Company.
En 1884, o Imperio Alemán formalmente tomou posesión do nordés da illa e puxo a súa administración en mans dunha compañía comercial contratada formada para o devandito propósito, a Compañía de Nova Guinea (Neu Guinea Kompagnie).