Butcher (44), of Cambridge was having his 12th drive in the race over 20 years.
Small (46), of Patumahoe, had been represented in five other NZ Cups since 1996.
Small shifted north from Canterbury 25 years ago.
Butcher is a son of Johnny Butcher, who trained Tobias, the fourth placegetter in the 1966 NZ Cup.
Small and Butcher had come close to winning the NZ Cup in 2003 and '04 with Elsu, who was beaten a neck each time by Just An Excuse.
Changeover ran fourth last year when the race had a stake of $750,000.
It was ironic that the runner-up yesterday, Baileys Dream, was driven by Todd Mitchell, who drove Just An Excuse.
Butcher has had other NZ Cup drives in Gaelic Skipper (1988, '89 and '90), Ritchi (1999), Facta Non Verba (2001), Disprove (2002), London Legend (2005) and Winforu (2006).
Small was first represented in the race by Grinaldi (1996).
He has also started All Hart (2003) and Winforu (2006) in the race.
He was also represented by Zenad (fifth) and Awesome Armbro (seventh) yesterday.
"It is a race I have always wanted to win but after missing a couple of times, I was resigned to the outcome," Small said.
He said he was not too disappointed when Changeover, normally a good beginner, tangled at the start.
Butcher said the horse might have been upset by a delay in the start when a buckled sulky wheel of Gotta Go Cullen had to be changed.
Butcher said his thought was just to get Changeover on an even keel again.
"I just wanted to get him pacing. He settled and it worked out in the end."
He took Changeover to the lead at the 1500m but gave way soon after to Baileys Dream.
Changeover came along the passing lane in the final 200m and won by a length and three-quarters.
"He was cruising from the 800m," Butcher said.
His time was 1.4sec inside the record time set last year by Flashing Red.
It was a 1.58.8 mile rate.
The last mile was run in 1.55.9, the last 800m in 56.4 and 400m in 27.3.
It was the 23rd win for Changeover in 39 starts and the $650,000 first prize boosted his stake earnings to $1,887,154 for owners, the ATC Trot 2006 syndicate.
There are 50 shares in the syndicate involving 74 individuals.
Rob Carr, the manager of the syndicate and breeder of Changeover, estimated there were 50 syndicate members on hand for the win yesterday.
Their presence and joy caused close to mayhem in the birdcage after the race.
Changeover, a 5yr-old entire by In The Pocket from Changerr, was bought by Small on behalf of the syndicate for $28,000 at the Australasian classic sale as a yearling when offered by Carr and co-breeder Don Kirkbride.
The syndicate is the seventh of 11 organised by the Auckland Trotting Club.
Small has also had major success with Tintin In America and Awesome Armbro for ATC syndicates.
The syndicates were begun on the initiative of the Steve Stockman.
Small said a start for Changeover in the NZ Free-For-All on Friday would depend on how he came through his race yesterday.
He finished ninth in the ffa last year.
Small said the Miracle Mile in Sydney on November 29 was an option if he received an invitation.
"My main concern is if I can get him home from Sydney," Small said.
"I might be faced with being away for three months with the equine influenza regulations."
Butcher and Small declined to compare Changeover with Elsu, who made clean sweep of the heats and final of the Interdominion in Auckland in 2005.
"They are both great horses," Butcher said.
Baileys Dream, who also tangled early, fought well for second but his stablemate Monkey King dropped out to last after becoming prominent in the middle stages.
Report For Duty was a creditable third after leading early.
Denis Nyhan, who drove Lordship to win the NZ Cup in 1962 and '66, figured as the owner-trainer-driver of With Intent, winner of a 2-win discretionary handicap trot yesterday.
