Cr Butcher, along with Cr Louise Croot, has been on the regional council since it was established in 1989. Before that, he served as mayor and councillor of the Cromwell Borough Council and deputy mayor of the Central Otago District Council.
''I've enjoyed every minute of it, but after 33 years that's the end.''
His retirement means there will be at least two new Dunstan councillors around the regional council table after the October elections as the constituency's representatives have been increased to three, to reflect population growth in the area.
Fellow Dunstan councillor Gerry Eckhoff planned to stand again, but for the last time, he said.
''Three terms are sufficient for anybody.''
Cr Croot, a Dunedin representative, said while she was getting older, she had decided to stand again as with the regional policy statement, water quality and dealing with changes to the Resource Management Act, there was still plenty of important work to do.
While it was necessary to have continuity on council, she had been trying to encourage other people to stand, especially women, but it was a struggle, she said.
Chairman Stephen Woodhead, a Molyneux representative, said he would stand again but it would be up to his colleagues who led the new council.
''Individual aspirations are irrelevant.''
The council would face some tough issues in the next three years, such as intensified land use, and water and air quality in a changing regulatory environment, he said. The next council would need to ''take stock'' and do significant strategic planning. Deputy chairman David Shepherd, who also represents Molyneux, said believed he would stand again. He probably would not put his hand up for deputy again, if elected, he said.
Cr Doug Brown, the only Moeraki representative, said he would stand again as there was a lot of work to be done implementing water quality changes.
Of the other Dunedin representatives, Crs Trevor Kempton, Michael Deaker and Gretchen Robertson, now a mother of two, confirmed they would stand again.
Cr Bryan Scott said he was still undecided as it was a ''big commitment to make''.
''I'll give it some serious consideration.''
Cr Sam Neill could not be contacted.
Nominations for the local body elections open on July 26.
