Bhutanese refugees let their hair down to celebrate their New Zealand home.

A group of Bhutanese people have held a "thank you New Zealand" party to celebrate a decade since the major first wave of refugees arrived in the country.

Saturday's celebrations, at the Globe Theatre in Palmerston North, were the first of a string of celebratory events this year, Bhutanese Society of New Zealand Palmerston North and Feilding president Deven Rai said.

Rai was among the second group to arrive in New Zealand via refugee camps in Nepal, in July 2008, after an original group of 75 people in March.

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Karishma Kafley, left, and Ram Biswa brought a modern and traditional dance fusion to the celebrations.

"It's a celebration of a successful and safe life here, and 10 years living in this beautiful country after spending such a terrible life [before]. It's a celebration of freedom," he said.

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"The community are doing very well here and are giving back to the community through the workforce. We have a feeling of happiness when we come together, with energy and emotions."

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Rehana Sanjal, 3, looks off stage to her dance instructor.

The community has continued to grow, with more arrivals from Bhutan and Nepal and a first generation of Kiwi-Bhutanese born here. The society regularly organised events for adults and youth, to keep the culture alive, Rai said.

Crowds cheered and clapped to live Bhutanese and Nepali music and dance, and a visiting modern-Nepali musician performed. Rai said young people from other refugee backgrounds were also invited to join in.

"The idea came from the youth and we want to share."

Palmerston North Girls' High student Joti Gautam, 16, was six when she arrived in New Zealand. She loves being a Kiwi and is proud of her heritage.

The party was "so exciting" she said.

"Everyone's having fun. We can relate to the songs, they go with our culture. It's not really like pop, it's much more classic and chilled.

"If we didn't do stuff like this the young people wouldn't know what our culture's about. It's something within me that I feel I shouldn't forget - it's where I was born and the reason I'm here now."

The community is planning more 10 year anniversary celebrations in Palmerston North for November, Rai said.