Child Youth and Family says it is ''disappointed'' a Central Otago couple have gone public with its battle against the department's Home for Life programme.
CYF regional director Chris Harvey said the department was concerned at the impact the publicity would have.
The department needed to protect the privacy of all people involved in the case ''even if it means not being able to explain our own actions''.
He said CYF had gone through a formal complaint process with the couple.
''If they have further concerns, they are welcome to raise these with us,'' Mr Harvey said.
''We can say that a social worker visited within the first week of the children being placed with the couple.
''From that first visit, there were approximately 70 contacts between CYF and this couple, including emails, phone calls, visits and meetings until the couple requested the children be removed from their care.''
The woman has told the Otago Daily Times that CYF informed the couple, via email, the children would be collected because the couple were uncomfortable with the amount of contact their biological father had sought and been granted.
Mr Harvey said at the heart of any care-giving placement was the opportunity for a child to be ''safe and thrive''.
''We wanted this placement to work out as much as anyone.
''Sadly, some placements do break down and this can be very upsetting for all involved ...''
The department had ''worked with the couple to understand their situation''. That would inform what it was doing to support the care-giving role, he said.
The CYF role was to promote the best interest of the child, but when a child was in care it was the Family Court that made any decisions, taking into account all factors, including criminal offending.
CYF was required to act in accordance with the direction of the court, Mr Harvey said.
