Regional expansion has two sides, that is, the positive and negative sides; it can be looked at from the viewpoint of the regions’ interests and also from the viewpoint of the centre. Regional expansion is relatively able to bring construction of new roads to isolated areas. However, such expansion often leads to conflict, such as the conflict between the main local government and the expansion areas of North Halmahera. Though the expansion was approved as a means of conflict resolution, more care should be taken so as not to excessively simplify and generalize the issues affecting the regions in Indonesia which are socio-culturally, politically, economically and geographically very heterogeneous. The results of this research show that the disputes between the main areas and the expansion areas were caused by unclear boundaries/regions. The division of regional assets are not fully supported by clear ownership data, and financing from the main regions to the expansion areas are not sustainable.

The resolution of the dispute between the main and expansion regions was aided by the following: Government Regulation No. 27 Year 2012 about the Establishment and Assertions of the village boundary; Government Regulation No. 78 of 2007 on the Procedures for the Establishment, Removal and Merging of Regions; Law No. 23 Year 2014 on Regional Government and Public Participation in disputes resolution of area boundary. The ideal model of dispute resolution was through the Ministerial Regulation No. 19 Year 2010 about the assertion of area borders and through the resolution at the governor’s level and at the ministerial level.
Keywords: Expansion, Boundaries, Dispute resolution.