Butcher returns home today after finishing as the third-placed junior in the Australian Open Canoe Slalom championships in Sydney.
The whitewater slalom event attracted a field of 240 kayakers from 29 countries, including past and current world champions and Olympians.
It was Butcher's second trip to Australia to compete this year and he has more international competition on the agenda with races in the United States and Canada in June and July, followed by competition around Europe in August.
He and fellow Dunstan High School pupil, Robert Hervey (16), of Murchison, have been selected in the six-man New Zealand junior slalom team to compete in Wisconsin in July.
Butcher was also chosen for the under-23 national team and as third reserve for the three-man senior men's team which is competing in the world championships in Slovakia later this year.
Central Otago Whitewater Club member and Alexandra junior slalom team coach Gordon Rayner said the selection of the two Central Otago kayakers was an impressive achievement.
Butcher's efforts over the weekend and his recent accomplishments were "a great achievement for a motivated, talented young athlete," he said.
The Australian championship attracted world-class kayakers, with the cream of European competitors being based in Sydney over summer.
Butcher's mother, Wendy Robertson, said her son was delighted with his efforts at the weekend and was looking forward to more international competition later this year.
"He was pleased to come up against some of the top competitors in the sport and do well against them," she said.
The year 12 pupil was fitting school work around his racing, thanks to the support of his teachers at Dunstan, and was busy fundraising for his next trip overseas.
