Butcher, who was an Otago Daily Times Class Act recipient last year when attending Dunstan High School, won the highly competitive K1 class at the championships.
Butcher, who is studying applied science, majoring in design, at the University of Otago, put together two consistent runs to win the tough semifinal and then performed well in the final, winning by nearly 3sec.
The event was run on the course designed by American Scott Shipley and, with the river running at 65cumecs, the course, which was longer than most paddlers were used to, was not easy.
A new format following international guidelines was used at the championships meaning a two-run qualification, semifinals and finals.
Butcher was pleased with the victory and was now looking forward to heading to the under-23 world championships on the Penrith course in Sydney at the end of this month.
Callum Gilbert, of Tauranga, was second and Malcolm Gibson, of Gore, was third.
Gibson will also travel to Penrith for the world championships.
The Nicholas siblings, Ella and Jane, who are both studying medicine at the Christchurch campus of the University of Otago medical school, finished second and third in the women's K1 grade.
Ella Nicholas had dominated qualification and the semifinals but too many gate touches in the final cost her the chance of her first national title which went to Tauranga paddler Haylee Dangen, who won in both K1 and C1.
Other University of Otago students to compete and gain medals were Anna Higgins, who finished third in the under-23 K1, and Marcus Norbury, who finished third in the under-23 C1.
Sam McCulloch, from Dunstan High School, was second in the under-18 K1 men.
