He said a Booktown was a small rural town or village, close to major cities, in which second-hand and antiquarian bookshops were concentrated.
"Most Booktowns had developed in villages of historic interest or of scenic beauty.
"Their residents set up events around books - selling them, writing, reading, illustrating, printing, making and publishing them."
The event would be an opportunity to browse and buy "recent and old, very old and rare" books.
"Booktowns are not just one event. Rather the vision is that the town will become synonymous with the book as an artefact, developing further bookshops, artisan workshops related to bookbinding, paper making, printing and similar crafts."
The first Booktown was set up in Hay-on-Wye in Wales, in 1961, and now they are global.
Mr Gould said Featherston Booktown was unique as it would "focus on the book rather than just being another writers and readers festival".
He said it would see the largest collection of New Zealand's bookshops gathered in one place.
Kate Mead, Featherston Booktown director of operations, said the events would be "shaped around the town", with a strong World War I theme.
"Featherston's quite long and spread out.
"So we're setting literary treasure trails that will guide visitors past businesses and historic buildings, to find the answers," she said.
"Residents and visitors get the opportunity to hear nationally recognised artisans and writers in a small town, up close and eye to eye."
Peter Biggs, chairman of the New Zealand Book Council, said Kiwis were "arguably the biggest readers of books per capita in the world".
"We want Featherston Booktown to be a stand-out expression of who we really are as New Zealanders - creative, book loving and generous," he said.
"The Booktown movement is a shining example of the new way of thinking about culture and economic growth."
He said arts and creativity were as essential as infrastructure like roads, drains and trains.
"Two wonderful days of inspirational experiences involving writers, writing, books and speakers - all in a beautiful part of the world, the South Wairarapa."
The event is in collaboration with Kokomai Creative Festival and Wairarapa Word.
