Cr Butcher quit the new council's inaugural meeting during a break on Tuesday, missing a series of votes on procedural items that followed, and left other councillors to explain her absence to Mayor Dave Cull.
Cr Kate Wilson was also left to explain that Cr Butcher no longer wanted the role of deputy chairwoman of the planning and environment committee, after she had been nominated for the post by Mr Cull.
Cr Butcher did not return calls on Tuesday, and declined to comment about her behaviour when contacted at home by the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
However, her absence came after she criticised Mr Cull's nomination of Cr Chris Staynes as deputy mayor last week, saying that the move lacked "diversity".
It was also confirmed at Tuesday's meeting that Cr Butcher had lost her role as chairwoman of the community assistance subcommittee, which she held during the previous term.
She was replaced as the subcommittee's chairwoman by council newcomer Cr Jinty MacTavish, one of five members of the Greater Dunedin group led by Mr Cull on the new council.
Cr Butcher remained a member of the council's four main committees - the new finance, strategy and development; infrastructure services; community development; and planning and environment - alongside all other councillors.
She was also named as a member of the council's hearings committee and town hall complex, biodiversity fund and road stopping subcommittees.
