It has been confirmed that there is no crack in the Pūtauaki Maunga.

Instead, a dislodged boulder has caused what seems to be a long groove down the mountain comes after a drone was sent up over the area.

On Saturday, some Kawerau residents questioned whether the mark that appeared that morning on the side of Pūtauaki, previously known as Mount Edgecumbe, was due to a crack or to a dislodged boulder.

The steep track mark appeared during a swarm of earthquakes in the Whakatane region; the first was a magnitude 3.4 tremor at 3.29am on Saturday. It was 3km deep and 25km southwest of Whakatāne, near Kawerau.

The mark that has appeared down the side of Putauaki has been caused by a dislodged boulder. Photo: Supplied.

GeoNet has recorded more than 600 earthquakes so far in the swarm, eight of which were over magnitude four.

Some Kawerua residents wondered if there was a landslide imminent due to what they believe appears to be a long line or crack appearing on the side of Putauaki, which is about three kilometres east of the town. The dacite volcanic cone is the easternmost vent of the Okataina volcanic centre, within the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

The boulder crashed through undergrowth on Pūtauaki. Photo: Supplied.

'The track visible on the Pūtauaki Maunga was from part of a large boulder being dislodged during the quakes and crashing down through the tree-line,” says Kawerau District Council Communications and Engagement Manager Tania Humberstone.

'At one point, from photographs it is evident that the boulder split into two.”

The mark that has appeared down the side of Putauaki has been caused by a dislodged boulder. Photo: Supplied.

Council wishes to thank Māori Investments Limited – MIL - for their support and prompt permission to operate the drone and obtain the footage to confirm that this was a boulder.

'Council wishes to advise residents and the public, that there are currently several well-loved walking tracks that are currently closed after the quakes due to health and safety concerns,” says Tania.

'These areas are the walking tracks up into the Monika Lanham Reserve due to damage to the steps.”

Tania says all tracks into Monika Lanham Reserve have been closed for this reason.

'In addition, the walking track and steps up to the Māori Investments Limited headquarters off Waterhouse Street are closed due to subsidence at the top and concerns of further slips or possible landslides.”

Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui asked locals not to ignore barriers put in place for safety, such as this one at the walkway in Monika Lanham Reserve. Photo: Troy Baker/Whakatane Beacon/LDR.

An area of the walking track along the Tarawera River near the canoe slalom course is also closed due to subsidence from heavy rainfall which Tania says has been made worse following the quakes.

'We urge residents and visitors to adhere to these closures for their own safety,” says Tania.

The Kawerau District Council is also assessing other areas within the district which may pose issues.

'We are working with the [Bay of Plenty] regional council with regards to areas along the rivers and will keep the community informed as to any further issues or dangers,” says Tania.

The boulder crashed through undergrowth on Pūtauaki. Photo: Supplied.

The boulder crashed through undergrowth on Pūtauaki. Photo: Supplied.