The article discusses the importance of ethical publishing practices in academic journals. It highlights the need for clear policies that govern the relationships between editors, publishers, authors, referees, and readers. The study found that current ethics codes in New Zealand universities do not emphasize the ethics of publishing. These codes mainly focus on protecting the privacy of respondents and ensuring they have access to reports they contributed to. Academic publishing is influenced by various interests, including intellectual, financial, and political factors, which can sometimes conflict with each other.