A Central Hawke's Bay museum says it's not responsible for a $20,000 antique stove that was damaged while in its care.
The cast iron stove was left in the care of the CHB Settlers Museum in Waipawa after its owner, Lindsay McNicol, was unable to afford the insurance premium.
"I thought if the museum is interested that's a good place for it to be," McNicol said.
McNicol acquired the Lakeside Foundry Stove from a South Island scrap yard about 30 years ago.
The stove was insured for $20,000 when he moved it from Oamaru to Hawke's Bay last year, but when the premium expired he could not afford to renew it.