John62 - This particular operator is rumoured to have had a difficult history at Noumea, which may be relevant to the decisions concerning flight planning and alternates (both sectors).
This is a very good point, amongst the many good ones here. And it's one reson why I say it's unfair to blame the regulator, no one can legislate effectively against a bad culture.
The stuff not written which carries the full weight of 'company' rules and a bollocking. Don't buy fuel at ABCD – to expensive; don't land at EFGH – we barred; don't ask for RTOW charts, etc. etc. We all have heard or seen it. Minimising uplift at 'expensive' ports and tankering fuel at 'cheap' ports is a game often and well played. It's called operating a service, as is saving a ton of fuel or finding the best flight level, or any of that unwritten, command type stuff. But, even if the rumours related to Noumea were true, I'd pick a night in French pokey over a swim in dark, any old day of the month.